Biden backed by latest Democrat to drop out of race

TULSI GABBARD, the US congresswoman from Hawaii, has dropped out of the Democrat presidential nominations and endorsed Joe Biden.

Ms Gabbard, 38, had come under increasing pressure to end her campaign after staying in longer than many other more viable candidates.

During the campaign, she fell out with Hillary Clinton, and sparked speculation that she might stand as a thirdon party candidate, which would have damaged the Democrat nominee. By endorsing Mr Biden, she ruled out that possibility.

Mr Biden and Bernie Sanders, the democratic socialist, are now the only candidates left in the race.

Ms Gabbard said: “I’m suspending my presidential campaign and offering my full support to [former] vice president Joe Biden in his quest to bring our country together.

“Although I may not agree with him every issue, I know that he has a good heart, and he is motivated by his love for our country.”

Ms Gabbard’s endorsement of Mr Biden was a surprise because she supported Mr Sanders in 2016, and backs his Medicare for All plan for a government-run universal healthcare system. However, Mr Sanders is under growing pressure to drop out after disappointing results in recent votes.

Ms Gabbard added: “I’m confident that he [Mr Biden] will lead our country guided by the spirit of ‘aloha’, respect and compassion, and thus help heal the divisiveness that has been tearing our country apart.”

The congresswoman was never a serious contender to win the nomination, but qualified to appear in several Democrat debates.

She previously served in Iraq as a reservist in Hawaii’s Army National Guard, and her campaign centred on opposition to “excessive” US military involvement abroad.