Harry Reid endorses Joe Biden for president

Former Nevada U.S. Sen. Harry Reid endorsed his longtime former colleague, ex-Vice President Joe Biden, for president on Monday, joining a growing chorus uniting behind the moderate choice in the Democratic primary race.

In a statement released by his office, Reid characterized his choice as a pragmatic one, saying Biden has the best chance to defeat President Donald Trump.

“President Donald Trump has done unspeakable damage to our country, our institutions and the rule of law. Democrats need a candidate who can assemble the largest, most diverse coalition possible to defeat Trump and lead our country following the trauma of Trump’s presidency. That candidate is Joe Biden,” Reid’s statement reads.

“Joe Biden’s strength of character and deep experience stand in the starkest contrast to Trump’s amorality, corruption and utter incompetence,” the statement continues. “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. I believe Biden is best able to defeat Donald Trump and enact the policies we all care about.

“Our party was fortunate to have a tremendous field of talented candidates this year, many of whom are my close friends. I have the deepest respect and admiration for Sens. (Bernie) Sanders, (I-Vt.), (Elizabeth) Warren (D-Mass) and (Amy) Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and (former New York City) Mayor (Mike) Bloomberg. They’re among the brightest leaders in our party, and they’ve made invaluable contributions to this race and our country.”

Nationally, Biden has been consolidating support from former colleagues. Klobuchar indicated she would endorse Biden when she ended her presidential bid on Monday. And Buttigieg, who got out of the race on Sunday, was set to endorse Biden as well, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

Reid declined to endorse a candidate before Nevada’s Feb. 22 caucuses, and even traveled from his home in Henderson to the East Las Vegas Library to cast an early caucus vote for “uncommitted.”

But his post-caucus endorsement comes as little surprise. Reid told the ABC News PowerHouse Politics podcast that Sanders’ signature campaign issue — providing health care for all Americans through the Medicare program — was “impractical.”

“There’s not a chance in hell it would pass,” he said in the podcast interview with ABC News Political Director Rick Klein.

Although Reid rose to become the Democratic Party’s leader in the Senate, he was never as liberal as many members in his caucus, a fact that earned him skepticism on left even as he was excoriated by the right for allegedly betraying Nevada centrist values. Endorsing Biden — the moderate alternative to Sanders — is unsurprising for Reid.

Still, the decision must have pained Reid, who worked alongside both Biden and Sanders in the Senate. After Sanders suffered a heart attack in Las Vegas in October, Reid traveled to visit him in the hospital.

Reid’s endorsement comes after several other high-profile Nevada politicians joined the Biden camp, starting with Rep. Dina Titus, who was later joined by Rep. Steven Horsford. State Sen. Yvanna Cancela not only endorsed Biden, she joined the campaign as an adviser. Former members of Congress Shelley Berkley and Jim Bilbray have endorsed Biden, as well.

Contact Steve Sebelius at SSebelius@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0253. Follow @SteveSebelius on Twitter.