Sen. Harry Reid endorses Hillary Clinton

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D) announced Wednesday that he is endorsing Hillary Clinton, adding that he believes she would better serve the middle class than Bernie Sanders, CNN reports. "I think that my work with her over the years has been something that I have looked upon with awe," Reid said.

Reid is now the highest-ranking Democrat to throw his weight behind Clinton, who handily won Nevada and is going into Saturday's South Carolina primary as a favorite. Reid, who is from Nevada, intentionally waited until after his state's caucuses to announce his decision in the hopes of raising Democratic voter registration.

"I also think she's the woman to be the first president of the United States that's a female," Reid added. Clinton has the support of about 40 senators, while Sanders has yet to earn the backing of any.

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Reid would not criticize Sanders, however, saying he personally called him to inform him of the decision. Sanders was "so magnanimous, so kind and courteous," Reid said.