Story highlights Rep. Tulsi Gabbard endorsed Bernie Sanders' Democratic presidential campaign on Sunday

Gabbard resigned her post at the Democratic National Committee to back Sanders

Washington (CNN) Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is endorsing Bernie Sanders' presidential bid, departing her post as the Democratic National Committee's vice chair to support the Vermont senator.

"There is a clear contrast between our two candidates with regard to my strong belief that we must end the interventionist, regime change policies that have cost us so much. This is not just another issue. This is the issue, and it's deeply personal to me," Gabbard said on NBC's "Meet the Press" -- a comment distributed by Sanders' campaign.

The Hawaii Democrat's backing for Sanders comes the day after Sanders was blown out by nearly 50 points by Hillary Clinton in South Carolina's Democratic primary -- and two days before 11 states vote on Super Tuesday.

Sanders is trying to erase Clinton's advantage among women by winning over younger women -- particularly in an 18-to-29 age group he has dominated through the first four states to vote.

Gabbard -- like Sanders -- has at times been at odds with the DNC in the 2016 election cycle. She criticized the party's original slate of six debates, arguing it was too limited.

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