WASHINGTON (AP) — After months of staying neutral in his party's primary, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is endorsing Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.
A spokeswoman for the Nevada senator said Wednesday that Reid was making the endorsement, which comes four days after Clinton won his state's caucuses. Reid participated but voted as "uncommitted," saying he would remain neutral in the competition between Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders so he could not be accused of rigging the caucuses.
The high-profile endorsement is a boost to Clinton and comes from the most senior Democrat in the Senate. Clinton also has secured the backing of Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the assistant Democratic leader in the House.
The former first lady, New York senator and secretary of state narrowly won Iowa, suffered a double-digit loss to Sanders in New Hampshire and prevailed in Nevada. She leads in public polls ahead of Saturday's South Carolina primary.
In an interview with CNN, Reid said the middle class would be better served by Clinton.
"I think that my work with her over the years has been something that I have looked upon with awe," he told CNN.
He noted her work on health care, and said "she's the woman" to become the first female president of the United States.
