- Former Vice President Joe Biden claimed decisive victory in South Carolina’s Democratic primary on Saturday, prompting numerous other presidential candidates to exit the race ahead of Super Tuesday.
- Some of the former candidates as well as other Democratic heavyweights have now thrown their support behind the former vice president on the eve of the pivotal vote.
- Here’s who endorsed Biden the day before Super Tuesday.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Following a decisive victory in South Carolina’s Democratic primary, former Vice President Joe Biden continues to ride on a high on the eve of Super Tuesday.
Some former 2020 presidential candidates have now thrown their support behind the former vice president, including former Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas; former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana; and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Harry Reid – once the most powerful Democrat in the Senate – and the former national security adviser Susan Rice also endorsed Biden in a bid to unify the party ahead of a day when roughly a third of Democratic delegates are up for grabs.
Here’s who endorsed Biden the day before Super Tuesday:
Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana
Buttigieg, who dropped out of the 2020 race on Sunday, threw his support behind Biden on the eve of Super Tuesday.
Biden said at a rally that he called Buttigieg after the former mayor dropped out of the race, telling him he needed to still stay engaged even after withdrawing.
On Monday, Biden said Buttigieg, who is a military veteran, reminded him of his son Beau, who served in the Army National Guard and died of a brain tumor in 2017.
Source: Business Insider
Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
Klobuchar was one of three women left running for president before she ended her campaign on Monday.
She endorsed Biden on the same day in a bid to unify the party's moderates ahead of the pivotal vote on Tuesday.
She also spoke at a rally for Biden in Dallas, saying, "I can't think of a better way to end my campaign than to join his."
Source: Business Insider
Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas
O'Rourke, who dropped out of the race in November, expressed support for Biden's campaign, and he appeared at his rally at Texas Southern University in Dallas.
O'Rourke and the former vice president went to Whataburger after the rally for a "true Texas experience," where they spoke with guests and dined at the fast-food restaurant.
Source: KPRC
Former national security adviser Susan Rice
Rice, who also served in the Obama administration with Biden, tweeted her endorsement of Biden on Monday.
"There is no one kinder, more empathetic, and caring than Joe Biden," she wrote. "He will lead America with the same deep compassion and decency."
Source: Twitter
Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
The former longtime US senator from Nevada - once the most powerful Democrat in the Senate - endorsed Biden. He said the former vice president's character stood "in the starkest contrast to Trump's amorality, corruption, and utter incompetence."
"Biden will be a much-needed stabilizing force following Trump's disastrous term, offering a positive and progressive alternative to Trump's dark vision of racism, xenophobia, and policies built on cruelty and exclusion," Reid said in a statement.
"I believe Biden is best able to defeat Donald Trump and enact the policies we all care about."
Source: USA Today
