Influential SC Democrat backs Joe Biden’s 2020 bid for president

Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden’s mainstream support in South Carolina grew by one Monday with the backing of state Sen. Marlon Kimpson, who said he considers the former vice president the best candidate to beat president Donald Trump in November.

The Charleston Democrat’s endorsement of Biden comes now fewer than 55 days until South Carolina’s “First in the South” Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 29, and even fewer days until a handful of candidates take the debate stage in Charleston on Feb. 25.

The endorsement was first reported by The Post and Courier Monday morning.

Kimpson is the 15th state lawmaker to endorse Biden, 77, and one of the more high-profile state leaders to do so, joining Richland County’s state Sen. Darrell Jackson, state Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Kershaw County, former S.C. Gov. Dick Riley and former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley.

“If there is one thing I’ve learned during my time in public service, it’s that South Carolinians know authenticity when they see it,” Kimpson said in a statement. “We know Joe Biden. We know his heart and his character are unwavering and because of that so is his support in the Palmetto State. Joe has remained unapologetically true to himself while opponents from every direction have tried to tear him down.”

Kimpson had stayed pretty mum on the entire endorsement process, having shepherded several Democratic presidential candidates, including U.S. Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, around his district and hosting town halls.

But Kimpson told Politico he grew tired of waiting on the sidelines.

Though Biden hangs between second and third in early-voting states Iowa and New Hampshire, respectively, he has continually remained at the top of polls in South Carolina, helped in large part by his support among the state’s African American voting bloc.

African American voters make up more than 60% of South Carolina’s Democratic electorate.

“Joe Biden’s work has spoken volumes, and I think the people understand that,” Kimpson said Monday on CNN.

This story was originally published January 6, 2020 at 3:26 PM.

Maayan Schechter

The State

Maayan Schechter (My-yahn Schek-ter) is the senior editor of The State’s politics and government team. She has covered the S.C. State House and politics for The State since 2017. She grew up in Atlanta, Ga. and graduated from the University of North Carolina-Asheville in 2013. She previously worked at the Aiken Standard and the Greenville News. She has won reporting awards in South Carolina. Support my work with a digital subscription