Joe Biden wins endorsement from mayor of Alabama's largest city in further set back to Pete Buttigieg

Polls suggest youngest of Democratic contenders struggling among voters of colour

The black mayor of the largest city in Alabama has endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race – a further setback to rival Pete Buttigieg who is battling to win over voters of colour.

Randall Woodfin, the mayor of Birmingham, said he believed the former vice president had the best chance among the Democratic contenders of defeating Donald Trump.

“You need somebody at the top of the ticket who can help down ballot candidates and expand the map nationwide,” Mr Woodfin told the Associated Press.

“From all the evidence I’ve seen, vice president Biden gives us the best chance to do that.”

In a poll conducted by Marist and published on Monday, Mr Biden, 77, leads the Democratic field on 24 points, ahead of Bernie Sanders on 22, Elizabeth Warren on 17 and Mr Buttigieg on 13.

In Iowa, the mayor of South Bend, leads his rivals in the state that is first to vote, and is second to Mr Sanders in New Hampshire, the second state to vote, according to an average collated by RealClearPolitics.

But polls suggest Mr Buttigieg has struggled to gain traction among people of colour, and data from states such as South Carolina and Nevada, which have more diverse populations, especially compared to the predominantly white Iowa and New Hampshire, is much less favourable to him.

Critics say during his two terms as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, he has failed to tackle issues that have been of concern to the black community, though Mr Buttigieg’s campaign denies that.

He has also faced controversy over his handling of the shooting this summer, of a black resident by a white police officer.

Polls show support for Mr Biden among people of colour is much more solid, something that is partly the result of him having served as deputy to Barack Obama, and also the result of his longevity and experience. Many Democrats are concerned they may not have a candidate they believe can win in the crucial general election.

Mr Buttigieg, 37, has acknowledged his need to build support among voters of colour and has been campaigning in places such as North and South Carolina.

Earlier this month, he also visited Alabama, where he vowed to deliver for people who felt their concerns had been ignored.

“I really value the opportunity to engage black voters and talk about our vision for black Americans,” Mr Buttigieg said, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.

“I speak to a lot of voters from the black community in particular who have felt abused by one party and sometimes taken for granted.”

Asked about the decision by California senator Kamala Harris, who is African American, to drop out of the 2020 contest, he said she had run “a great race”.

“She is also somebody who is an example for so many when we still have an underrepresentation of black women in leadership,” he said.

“Her leadership, her voice will continue to be extremely important as a national figure.”