Though former Vice President Joe Biden has nabbed more endorsements from Georgia officials than any other presidential contender, Thurmond joins a core of well-known state politicians who have recently sided with Bloomberg’s campaign.

U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath of Marietta endorsed the billionaire media executive earlier this month. So did state Sen. Jen Jordan of Atlanta, a likely candidate for statewide office later this decade.

Thurmond’s endorsement allows Bloomberg’s campaign another surrogate to help win over black voters who dominate Georgia’s March 24 primary and contests in other Southern states.

As U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders rises in the polls and Biden stakes his bid on South Carolina’s Saturday primary, Bloomberg is racing to steady his campaign after facing a barrage of attacks at his debut debates about his support for stop-and-frisk policies and the treatment of women employees at his businesses.

Thurmond said last week on GPB’s “Political Rewind” he was drawn to Bloomberg because he saw a “tremendous upside” in his economic policies.

“How can one not be intrigued by his candidacy, non-traditional in so many aspects?” Thurmond said. “But looking at the Democratic field, as it now stands, it’s clear that Michael Bloomberg will be a player throughout the primary season.”

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