Montana's top Dems back Clinton

After remaining neutral throughout the primary season, four of Montana's six superdelegates have lined up to support former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential race.

"Hillary Clinton is the most qualified person on the ballot to unite our nation at a time when dangerous rhetoric threatens to divide us," Sen. Jon Tester said in an emailed statement.

Tester, who is not up for re-election this year, said Friday he looks forward to working with Clinton on issues such as improving the economy, national security, infrastructure and education.

He also commended Clinton's primary rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, for invigorating young people and highlighting important issues.

Tester, who as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, is tasked with the party's national effort to elect Democrats to the U.S. Senate, said now that the primaries are over "it is time for the party to come together and support candidates up and down the ballot this November."

Tester's endorsement comes more than a week after Sanders defeated Clinton in the June 7 Montana Democratic presidential primary.

In Hill County, Sanders edged out Clinton 46 to 45 percent.

However, Clinton carried Chouteau County, where Tester farms west of Big Sandy, 57 to 37 percent.

Jason Pitt, a spokesperson with the Montana Democratic Party, said in an email Friday that Gov. Steve Bullock, who will be on the ballot in November, is supporting Clinton.

"Steve Bullock has said all along he'll be supporting the Democratic nominee," Pitt said. "Now that a candidate has secured the nomination he will be supporting her."

Tester and Bullock are among the six superdelegates Montana will be sending to the convention in Philadelphia in July.

Later in the day, a press release from the Montana Democratic Party said two other superdelegates, Chairman Jim Larson and Vice-Chairwoman Jacquie Helt, also endorsed Clinton.

Jean Lemire Dahlman, the party’s national committeewoman from Forsyth and a superdelegate, told MTN News at the state party’s June 11 convention in Helena that she backs Sanders.

The release did not contain an endorsement from the state’s sixth superdelegate National Committeeman Jorge Quintana.