Why Joe Biden is getting involved in an SC Senate race

A Columbia candidate is getting an endorsement from a potential Democratic presidential candidate.

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday endorsed Columbia’s Dick Harpootlian in his special election race for the state Senate’s District 20 seat.

Biden, a former U.S. senator, appears in a video posted online by Harpootlian’s campaign.

“I’ve known Dick for a long time,” Biden says in the video. “He’s a fighter who stops at nothing to get things done and makes South Carolina a much better place. He has a reputation for fighting hard against crime and supporting public education.”

It’s unusual for such a high-profile figure to get involved in a race for the state Legislature. But Harpootlian, a former state Democratic Party chairman, has long been influential in national Democratic politics. He was a key backer of Barack Obama in his 2008 win in the S.C. primary, a victory that led to Biden becoming Obama’s vice president.

Biden, who vacations often on Kiawah Island, has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. If he runs, a good performance in South Carolina’s early primary again could be crucial.

““He has been an incredible friend to my family and me over the years,” Harpootlian said of Biden in a statement. “He knows what’s required to be effective in our legislative branch of government better than anyone.”

Harpootlian previously received the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, among other local Democrats.

The Columbia attorney faces an Aug. 14 primary against Kyle Lacio and Dayna Alane Smith. The Democratic nominee will face one of four Republicans in the Nov. 6 special election.

This story was originally published August 1, 2018 at 9:49 AM.