AUGUSTA – Thirty Democratic legislators supporting the presidential bid of Gen. Wesley Clark rallied Thursday at the State House, claiming their candidate had the best chance of beating George W. Bush.

Senate President Beverly Daggett said Clark, as the Democratic nominee, would unite the party and Americans and put a Democrat back in the White House.

“He has very concrete proposals about bringing people together,” she said.

As a Vietnam veteran, Rep. Thomas Watson, D-Bath, said he might have been tempted to support Bush “had he not lied to the people about the reasons for going to war” in Iraq.

Clark, a former U.S. Army general, who has said he opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq, has won the backing of many veterans.

The state lawmakers, surrounded by green and blue balloons, hoisted campaign placards at a noon press conference at the Hall of Flags. Among them were 27 representatives and three senators.

Rep. Janet Mills, D-Farmington, said other prominent Maine Democrats supporting Clark include former House Speaker Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell.

House Speaker Patrick Colwell, along with Senate Majority Leader Sharon Treat, announced two weeks ago they were committed to the candidacy of former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.