Messina, Tester fundraise for Baucus in Montana

Obama 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) headlined a fundraiser for Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) Saturday night, helping the longtime senator prepare for what could be one of toughest campaigns to date.

"Max Baucus is a leader. He always puts Montana first," Tester said at the event. "He works his butt off and gets things done."

Messina, Baucus's former chief of staff and campaign manager, now heads the new pro-Obama group Organizing for Action. He said he would "absolutely" do what's needed to reelect Baucus.

The six-term senator's approval ratings have recovered a bit since the health care battles of 2010, but he still looks vulnerable to a challenge. Two Republicans are in the race already, though neither has high name recognition at this point.

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