Terry McAuliffe endorses Biden ahead of Super Tuesday

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president on Saturday, days before Virginians vote on Super Tuesday. 

“I’m going to endorse Joe Biden,” McAuliffe, a CNN commentator, said on the network following Biden’s decisive win in the South Carolina primary. 

“I’ve thought long and hard about this,” he continued. “To me, it’s an electability issue — who has the best shot of beating Donald Trump.” 

“I want someone who’s going to protect ObamaCare,” he said. “I think Joe Biden has the best chance of winning Virginia in the general election. You can’t sit on the sidelines, so I’m going to go all-in for Joe Biden.” 

McAuliffe also cited Biden’s potential positive impact on down-ballot races as a reason for supporting the former vice president in the primary. 

“I worry in Virginia. We’ve got two new [House] members, Abigail Spanberger and Elaine Luria, in very tough districts,” he said. “Joe Biden will be the best person at the top of the ticket to make sure we keep those seats.” 

McAuliffe’s endorsement comes after Biden scored another notable endorsement from the state’s Sen. Tim Kaine’s (D) on Friday. 

The former Virginia governor will join Biden in Norfolk, Va., on Sunday. 

Virginians will vote in the state’s Democratic primary on Tuesday where 99 pledged delegates are at stake. 

Recent polling shows Biden with newfound momentum in the commonwealth. A Wason Center poll released Friday showed Biden leading the Democratic field in the state with 22 percent support. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) trailed with 17 percent support, while former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg came in at 13 percent. 

Sanders and Bloomberg have also made plays in Virginia ahead of Super Tuesday. Bloomberg visited McLean, Va., on Saturday, while Sanders held a rally in the state on Thursday and two on Saturday.