verb

vigorously support or defend the cause of.

he championed the rights of the working class and the poor

advocate,promote,plead for,hold a torch for,defend,protect,uphold,support,back,espouse,ally oneself with,stand behind,stand up for,take someone’s part,campaign for,lobby for,fight for,battle for,crusade for,take up the cudgels for,propose,sponsor,vouch for,second,stick up for,throw one’s weight behind,plug