Biden has held a consistent lead in Florida. In the Real Clear Politics average of Florida primary polls, Biden has a 15-point lead over the field. | Getty Images Biden wins endorsement of top Florida Democrat

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State Sen. Audrey Gibson, one of the more prominent Democrats in state government, said she is endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden, a boost for the candidate in a state that could prove pivotal if the nominating battle lasts into March.

Gibson, an African American, is the Florida Senate’s top Democrat. The chamber is narrowly controlled by Republicans. While other Democratic legislators jumped in early to endorse Biden, Gibson initially stayed on the sidelines.


Gibson told POLITICO she was always leaning toward Biden, citing his eight years working along President Barack Obama, the nation’s first African American president. She praised Biden as someone who is “genuine” and “inclusive.”

During the last Democratic debate U.S. Sen. Cory Booker went after Biden, saying that his position on marijuana legalization showed that he was out of touch with the black community.

Gibson, however, did not agree with that.

“I understand he’s not an African American, everybody understands that part,” Gibson said. “That doesn’t mean he cannot be communicative and be focused on issues that impact certain African American communities."

"You don’t have to be an African American to have an understanding of what folks go through," she said.

The support of the Florida Senate’s top Democrat represents two groups that have been quick to back Biden’s campaign: black voters and Florida Democratic lawmakers.

Biden has been banking on support from black voters, a byproduct of his relationship with Obama and ties to the community.

A New York Times/Sienna University poll conducted last month showed Biden with 31 percent support among black voters in Florida, well ahead of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who came in second with 19 percent.

That is mirrored by a national Quinnipiac Poll released Tuesday that had Biden with a commanding 41 percent support form black voters.

In May, Shevrin Jones, an African American member of the Florida House, told POLITICO that black voters “equate” Biden with Obama.

Along with Jones’ backing, Biden has the endorsement of a host of black Florida lawmakers, including Democratic state Reps. Wengay Newton, Clovis Watson, Ramon Alexander, Barbara Watson and Tracie Davis. State Sen. Perry Thurston has also supported Biden’s campaign.

They are among the legislative Democrats who were early to endorse.

In May, POLITICO reported that Biden was getting the support of 23 of the Florida Legislature’s 64 Democrats, an early show of strength from his campaign in Florida.

“It’s a diverse list of supporters that without question shows his support here,” Democratic Florida Rep. Joe Geller, who helped gather the Biden endorsement, said at the time. “Not only do I think he can win, but I think he can untie the factions of the Democratic Party.”

Biden has held a consistent lead in Florida. In the Real Clear Politics average of Florida primary polls, Biden has a 15-point lead over the field.

That lead comes as the Democratic field has not yet trained its focus on Florida, whose March 17 primary has lead to less early candidate attention than in past election cycles.