Zinke hasn't decided who to endorse for president

Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., said he has not decided who he backs or whether he will publicly endorse one

of the five candidates running for president before his party's primary field is narrowed down to just one candidate.

"I'm looking," Zinke said during an interview at the Blaine and Hill County Lincoln- Reagan Dinner Sunday night. "Like most Americans, I have a bag of popcorn I have a good seat. I am going to look at this, and watch it unfold."

Zinke, a freshman representative and Montana's only member in the U.S House of Representatives, said he has been impressed with all 16 of those who have been in the race since the field started forming last year.

But rather than the candidates themselves, Zinke said the team of advisers the candidate assembles and rely on for advice, will play a large role in determining who and if he publicly endorses a candidate before the field is reduced to one candidate.

"I think part of leadership is to surround yourself with really good people," he said.

Zinke said the next president alone isn't going to be able to fix the problems facing the country. Rather much of it will depend on the advice, abilities and effectiveness of those around him.

Other prominent Montana political figures have come out and backed a presidential candidate in their respective party's primary. In October, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., declared his support for Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., while former Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer came out for former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who pulled out of the Democratic primary race following a lackluster showing in the Feb. 1 Iowa Caucus.

Democratic Sen. Jon Tester has said he will not endorse a candidate before the state's June 7 primary.