Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE wheeled out an endorsement of his presidential bid from one of Flint's celebrated political sons just before Sunday night's Democratic debate in that Michigan city plagued by a toxic water crisis.

Don W. Riegle Jr., who served in the House and Senate over his career, endorsed Sanders in a press conference held about an hour before the CNN debate between Sanders and presidential rival Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden MORE in Flint, Mich.

"[Sanders] stands head and shoulders above all the other candidates in either party," Riegle said, according to reporting by Amy Chozick of The New York Times.

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Riegle, who grew up in Flint, used the press conference to attack Bill and Hillary Clinton, saying their policies were bad for his hometown.

Former President Clinton's policies "destroyed the Flint I loved," Riegle reportedly said.

"The Clintons rammed NAFTA down the throats of the American people with false promises," Riegle reportedly added.

Riegle served as a member of both chambers of Congress until his retirement in 1995.

Since the Flint water crisis became a national news story, Clinton in particular has used her megaphone to draw attention to the lead poisoning. Tonight's debate is part of intensifying the national spotlight on Flint's troubles.

Clinton and Sanders will compete for Michigan's 147 delegates in Tuesday's primary. Clinton enjoys strong institutional support and leads Sanders by 20 percentage points in the state, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of recent polls.