Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE has received endorsements from former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and 51 Massachusetts leaders for his 2020 White House bid, Biden's campaign announced Friday.

Dodd, who represented Connecticut in the Senate for three decades, touted his former colleague as a “talented legislator” and “skilled statesman” who is “admired and respected by his Senate colleagues, world leaders, and the American people.”

“Because I know him, because I have worked alongside him, because I believe in his demonstrated leadership, his ability to attract talented people to his cause, and because I deeply believe he can win the support of all Americans from all sectors of our country and defeat Donald Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE, I am supporting my good friend, Joe Biden, for President of the United States,” Dodd said in a statement released by Biden's campaign. ADVERTISEMENT

In addition to Dodd’s endorsement, the campaign said in a separate announcement Friday that 51 current and former elected officials on different levels of government across Massachusetts are backing Biden in the primary.

One of Biden’s leading opponents in the primary, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE, represents Massachusetts in the Senate, and the new round of announced endorsements comes on the heels of the latest Democratic primary debate held Tuesday night in Ohio.

The 51 new Massachusetts endorsements add to Biden’s backing from Rep. Stephen Lynch Stephen Francis LynchOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Official: Pentagon has started 'prudent planning' for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May Overnight Defense: Dems divided on length of stopgap spending measure | Afghan envoy agrees to testify before House panel | Trump leans into foreign policy in campaign's final stretch MORE (D-Mass.), who has represented Boston and its southern suburbs for nearly two decades. Lynch supported Biden since he launched his campaign earlier this year, the campaign said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters Republicans not immune to the malady that hobbled Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election MORE (I-Vt.), another top candidate in the race, also received the backing of at least one high-profile progressive House Democrat following the debate Tuesday.

Rep. Ilhan Omar Ilhan OmarOmar urges Democrats to focus on nonvoters over 'disaffected Trump voters' Omar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' MORE (D-Minn.) announced her support for Sanders following the debate, while saying that fellow progressive freshman Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline McCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid MORE (D-N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib Rashida Harbi TlaibTrump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' George Conway: 'Trump is like a practical joke that got out of hand' Pelosi endorses Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate primary challenge MORE (D-Mich.) are "on board too."