Former SC Democratic chair Harpootlian endorses Sanders for president

Former S.C. Democratic Party Chair Dick Harpootlian told the New York Times he endorses Sen. Bernie Sanders for his party's presidential nomination.

Harpootlian is one of the state's most prominent Democrats, serving as party chair from1998 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2013. In the endorsement, he sharply criticized former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's speaking engagements with Wall Street banks and said she is "not an agent of change."

Harpootlian did not respond to a call from the Greenville News Wednesday night.

Sanders' South Carolina Communications Director Aneesa McMillan said the endorsement will help the campaign build momentum in the state, where Sanders trails Clinton by an average of 29.5 points in the polls.

Harpootlian endorsed then-Sen. Barack Obama over Clinton in 2008 and traded barbs with President Bill Clinton during that year's South Carolina primary campaign, which Obama won.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 8:17 AM with the headline "Former SC Democratic chair Harpootlian endorses Sanders for president."