Montana Senator Drops a Bombshell, Calls for Biden to Drop-out

Republican leaders, and "Super PACs" hoping to stop Senator Jon Tester's re-election bid are expected to be busy today, re-tooling their ad campaigns that have tried to link the Montana Democrat to the Biden Administration.

This came after Tester dropped a bombshell Thursday, joining the ranks of Democrats calling on President Biden to step aside as the party's candidate.

It's a move some had been anticipating, but not necessarily expecting as it throws a curve ball deep in the game where the GOP had been faulting Tester for voting with Biden a majority of the time.

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Tester Notes his Independence in Thursday's Statement

In a statement released to the Montana press Thursday afternoon, the Big Sandy Democrat said he "appreciates" Biden's "commitment to public service and our country", but believes he the President shouldn't seek a second term.

"I have worked with President Biden when it has made Montana stronger, and I’ve never been afraid to stand up to him when he is wrong," Tester said in the brief statement. "And while I appreciate his commitment to public service and our country, I believe President Biden should not seek re-election to another term.”

Tester becomes the second Democratic U.S. Senator to urge Biden to change his plans to seek a second term. Senator Peter Welch of Vermont said in a Washington Post op-ed that Biden should withdraw "for the good of the country."

READ MORE: The First Debate Between Tester and Sheehy

A New Wrinkle

Tester's position comes after months of his opponents, including GOP challenger Tom Sheehy have hammered the senior senator for being in lockstep with the Biden Administration on issues ranging from border security to inflation. And the Montana GOP had criticized Tester for not calling for Biden to stop his campaign.