click to enlarge Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

Matt Dunne at his campaign kickoff last October

A day after Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sue Minter landed the endorsement of former governor Howard Dean , one of her rivals sought to counter it with an endorsement of his own.Jeff Weaver, who managed the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), went to bat Friday for Democrat Matt Dunne, sending Dunne supporters a fundraising email that prominently mentions Sanders.“I have seen firsthand Bernie fight for seniors, women, and low- and middle-income workers — and I see that same dedication in Matt Dunne,” Weaver said in the email.Weaver’s support of Dunne is not new. He also endorsed the former Windsor County state senator for governor in 2010, when Dunne came in fourth in a five-person Democratic primary.This year, Dunne is in a three-candidate race for the Democratic nomination for governor in the August 9 primary. His opponents are Minter and former state senator Peter Galbraith.For Dunne, Weaver’s endorsement is part of a concerted effort to link himself to the rock star popularity of Sanders . All three Democratic candidates for governor endorsed Sanders, but Dunne often points out he was the first to do so.Will Sanders endorse any state candidates in primary races? That is to be determined, Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said Friday.