Montana Governor, Senators Set To Jump Off Fence

[kpete]

Montana Governor, Senators Set To Jump Off Fence
The three highest ranking Democrats in Montana plan to wade into the Democratic presidential race as soon as the state's primary is decided tonight, according to a source familiar with the decision.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer as well as Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester have agreed to all endorse the winner of Montana's primary -- almost certain to be Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) -- immediately upon the contest being called. The trio will be joined in the endorsement by state party chairman Dennis McDonald and vice chairman Margaret Campbell.

Polling, as well as conversations with strategists for both sides, suggest Obama enters today's Montana primary as a clear favorite. An American Research Group survey put Obama's lead over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at 48 percent to 44 percent but a Mason-Dixon survey showed Obama with a wider 52 percent to 35 percent lead.

Endorsing Obama en masse has both practical and symbolic effects.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/06/montana_governors_senators_to.html