How Schweitzer Was Forced Out of Race

The team that was preparing former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s (D) potential Senate candidacy “are blaming his sudden departure on Democratic infighting and bad blood among Schweitzer and the state’s two current Democratic senators,” Business Insider reports.

“The main target of their ire: Sen. Jon Tester (D). In the week before Schweitzer decided not to run, Democratic leaders began have doubts about Schweitzer’s candidacy. Multiple sources close to Schweitzer pointed to Tester and his chief of staff directly as the source of that doubt — something that Tester’s staff denies.”

“The source said Tester was ‘sticking knives’ in Schweitzer’s potential run…Three sources close to Schweitzer’s campaign fingered Tester’s camp as the source of two unflattering stories that popped up in the past week — one in Politico and one in the local Great Falls Tribune. These sources singled out Tester and Tom Lopach, his chief of staff.”