Vice President Joe Biden was the first sitting Vice President of the United States to express his personal support for marriage equality and helped lead the most pro-LGBTQ administration in our nation’s history. After leaving office, Vice President Biden has continued to champion the rights of LGBTQ people in the United States and globally through the Biden Foundation, which built on the Bidens’ lifelong commitment to advancing equality, including fighting for equal treatment, inclusion, acceptance, dignity, and justice for LGBTQ people.

Vice President Joe Biden was the first sitting Vice President of the United States to express his personal support for marriage equality and helped lead the most pro-LGBTQ administration in our nation’s history. After leaving office, Vice President Biden has continued to champion the rights of LGBTQ people in the United States and globally through the Biden Foundation, which built on the Bidens’ lifelong commitment to advancing equality, including fighting for equal treatment, inclusion, acceptance, dignity, and justice for LGBTQ people.

"I have seen firsthand what true leadership requires," Solis, who was the first Latina Cabinet member when she served in the Obama administration from 2009 to 2013, said in a statement to CBS News. "At this moment in American history, it is clear that Joe Biden has all the qualities that the American people need in the White House."

It turns out the regard is mutual. The Biden campaign has now named Richmond, a New Orleans Democrat, assistant to the majority whip and former head of the Congressional Black Caucus, as its first national co-chair.

The new role with send Richmond out onto the campaign trail, including to South Carolina, an important early primary state with a large African-American electorate, and one that’s represented by Richmond’s mentor in Congress, Majority Whip Jim Clyburn.

I’ve been recruiting the vice president to run almost immediately since [Hillary] Clinton lost.

One, because I thought his body of work was that of a person I’d want to see as president. Two, because I thought he was the best person to take on President Trump and beat him. And then three, from Day 1, restore our credibility around the world, and start to unify a very divided — a very, very divided — country.

Do you expect the vice president to offer more specifics on issues like climate?

Absolutely. It’s amazing to me to watch everyone now say that they are, quote-unquote “progressive” and “this is the litmus test for progressives,” but everything they’re talking about the vice president, they are issues he’s already been on.