Carney, Carper endorse Hillary Clinton for president

Two more top Delaware Democrats are endorsing Hillary Clinton for president after Vice President Joe Biden bowed out of a 2016 campaign last week.

Delaware Congressman John Carney and U.S. Sen. Tom Carper are now backing Clinton's campaign.

Gov. Jack Markell, also a Democrat, endorsed Clinton last week. All three had pledged to support Biden if he had entered the race.

Carney, a front-runner in Delaware's 2016 race for governor, said in an interview that Clinton is the best candidate to "carry the Democratic banner."

"She's had an incredible career in public service," said Carney, citing her work as first lady, as a U.S. senator from New York and as secretary of state under President Obama.

Carper, who was elected to the U.S. Senate with Clinton in 2000, said he delivered his endorsement when he called Clinton on Monday to wish her a happy birthday. “Out of deference and respect for another dear friend, Joe Biden, I withheld endorsing Hillary until today. Now that Joe has decided not to run, I am prepared to give Hillary my full and enthusiastic support," Carper said in a statement.

"She is the best candidate for the job as president, and I fully expect she will be elected next November."

Carney said Clinton's record of "working across the aisle in the U.S. Senate" would serve her well in the White House. "Every opportunity she has had she has shown her ability to come up with solutions and to stand strong," he said. "I think that's what we need now."

Carney also praised Clinton's performance last week, when she faced 11 hours of questioning in front of a congressional committee investigating the 2012 attacks in Benghazi. "She barely broke a sweat," Carney said.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont Independent challenging Clinton for the Democratic nomination, deserves credit for bringing attention to issues around economic inequality and "equal opportunity for every kid," Carney said.

But the congressman said Sanders should not be the Democrats' nominee.

"He's a self-proclaimed socialist. He's not a Democrat," Carney said. "That's an important differentiation. Having said that, he has raised some really important issues. I happen to believe that Mrs. Clinton has better answers to the question of 'what do you do about it?'"

Wilmington Mayor Dennis P. Williams also is backing Clinton, after denying that he endorsed her with Biden still undecided on a 2016 race.

Carney is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is running for governor next year with significant Democratic support.

Contact Jonathan Starkey at (302) 983-6756, on Twitter @jwstarkey or at jstarkey@delawareonline.com.