Democrats go for unification | Billings Gazette

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Democrats go for unification

By JENNIFER McKEE
Gazette State Bureau

The two men who for months battled to be the Democratic nominee for governor cemented their public affection Saturday with a bear hug amid cheering supporters at the ongoing Democratic Party Convention in Billings.

Such unity was a theme at the second day of the convention as the party closed its ranks behind gubernatorial nominee Brian Schweitzer and his Republican lieutenant governor candidate, Sen. John Bohlinger, R-Billings.

Schweitzer's tapping of Bohlinger splintered the party and John Vincent, who unsuccessfully challenged Schweitzer for the Democratic nomination, criticized Schweitzer for not picking a member of his own party.

But Vincent, who gave a rallying convention speech Saturday throwing his weight behind Schweitzer, seems to have put all that behind him. Vincent told gathered party faithful that Schweitzer was no longer his opponent, but the party's nominee who must be supported.

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