Rep. Danny Davis endorses Joe Biden

Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill, on Sunday endorsed Joe Biden for president, framing the establishment Democrat as the candidate most likely to oust President Donald Trump in November’s general election.

Davis noted that while Trump’s efforts to “dirty up” the former vice president helped trigger the ongoing impeachment proceedings, they have done little to stymy Biden’s bid for the presidency.

“The Republicans and the current president have thrown everything they can throw at Biden,” Davis said during a press conference at MacArthur’s Restaurant, the vaunted Austin neighborhood eatery.

“They have tried their very best to diminish his being, diminish his work, diminish his presence,” he added. “Well, with all the dirt that has been thrown, and all the dirt that has been attempted, Biden is still standing tall.”

Davis’ claim was an apparent reference to Trump’s unsubstantiated attacks against Biden and his son. The House impeachment inquiry was sparked after Trump allegedly withheld critical military aid to Ukraine as he and his allies pressured officials in the country to announce an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter, who previously sat on the board of a major Ukrainian energy company.

Last week, Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., also endorsed Biden, the former vice president, in the March 17 Illinois contest. Schneider is a Democratic centrist who represents an upscale north suburban district. Davis is one of the most progressive members of the House who represents a district stretching from downtown Chicago to parts of the West and South sides and western suburbs.

The Biden campaign touted its 40 total congressional endorsements and that Davis is the 17th African-American to back Biden. Illinois sends three African-Americans to Congress: Rep. Bobby Rush is backing ex-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., so far is remaining neutral

Davis’ endorsement comes a day before the Iowa caucus, the first-in-the-nation presidential battle of the election cycle that could serve as a pivotal bellwether for the crowded field of Democratic hopefuls.

Biden, who has for months been considered the party’s frontrunner, is now neck-and-neck with insurgent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Iowa, according to the most recent CBS News/YouGov poll. Biden and Sanders both earned 25% of first-choice support in the poll, with former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg trailing close behind with 21% of support.

Flanked by fellow Democrats, including Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and Ald. Pat Dowell (3^rd), Davis said voters are backing Biden “because they know him,” adding that he actively polled constituents ahead of his endorsement. Davis and Rush previously backed Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., who dropped out of the presidential race in December after running out of campaign cash.