Championing (8)
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">championing</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for espousal that I've seen before include "Adoption (of a cause) - USA's pole (anag)" , "championship" , "Adoption, support (of)" , "old-fashioned marriage" , "Favourable reception" .)
(Other definitions for promoting that I've seen before include "Advancing to higher position" , "Working for the cause of something" , "advertising" .)