Jennifer Granholm endorses Joe Biden ahead of Michigan primary

Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm endorsed Joe Biden on Wednesday morning, a day after the former vice president strung together a series of stunning victories in Super Tuesday states.

Michigan holds its Democratic primary next Tuesday, and with 125 delegates to be awarded, it is the biggest prize among five states voting that day.

In making her announcement on CNN, Granholm — who has worked with Biden on debate preparation — specifically cited his help during the 2008-09 auto crisis, when General Motors and Chrysler were in danger of failing. 

She said Biden was a key ally in the White House under President Barack Obama who lobbied for help to save GM and Chrysler, arguing that if they went under it could decimate the American auto industry.

Granholm's remarks, along with the fact that Biden mentioned the auto industry briefly in remarks on Tuesday night, makes it certain that he plans to campaign hard on the topic as he tries to beat U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in Michigan.

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Four years ago, Hillary Clinton claimed that Sanders had opposed funding for the auto rescue. Sanders argued that he supported helping the auto companies in a Senate vote, which he did. But he also voted against a later bill — authorizing spending under the Troubled Asset Relief Program or TARP — that was widely seen as helping Wall Street financial firms but did include funding to go to the automakers.

In making her endorsement, Granholm said that defeating Sanders in Michigan — which he won in 2016 — won't be easy.

"It's going to be a battle and nobody can take anything for granted," she said.

Contact Todd Spangler:tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler. Read more onMichigan politics and sign up for ourelections newsletter.