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Edwards to back Obama in US race Edwards endorses Obama in US race
(about 1 hour later)
Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama is to be backed by former rival John Edwards, his campaign says. Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama has been endorsed by his former rival John Edwards.
Mr Edwards, who was John Kerry's running-mate in the 2004 presidential race, has been one of the few senior Democrats yet to endorse a candidate. Mr Edwards, who was John Kerry's running-mate in the 2004 presidential race, had been one of the few senior Democrats yet to endorse a candidate.
Correspondents say his endorsement will damage Mr Obama's one remaining rival, Senator Hillary Clinton.Correspondents say his endorsement will damage Mr Obama's one remaining rival, Senator Hillary Clinton.
The endorsement comes a day after Mrs Clinton won the party's primary in West Virginia by a wide margin. The announcement comes a day after Mrs Clinton won the party's primary in West Virginia by a wide margin.
Mrs Clinton, like Mr Obama, had actively sought Mr Edwards's influential endorsement. Mr Edwards made his endorsement in a speech alongside the Illinois senator at a rally in Michigan, although he also praised Mrs Clinton.
A former North Carolina senator, Mr Edwards dropped out of the presidential race in late January.
Immediately afterwards both Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama actively sought his influential endorsement.
'Tricky case''Tricky case'
So far in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, Mr Obama has won more of the delegates who will choose the party's nominee at the Democratic National Convention this summer.So far in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, Mr Obama has won more of the delegates who will choose the party's nominee at the Democratic National Convention this summer.
He has also raised more money than Mrs Clinton.He has also raised more money than Mrs Clinton.
The Clinton campaign has been hoping that she could pick up more endorsements than Mr Obama from the so-called "super-delegates", who get an automatic vote at the convention by virtue of holding a senior position in the party.The Clinton campaign has been hoping that she could pick up more endorsements than Mr Obama from the so-called "super-delegates", who get an automatic vote at the convention by virtue of holding a senior position in the party.
The BBC's Justin Webb says that with Mr Edwards's high-profile endorsement, Mrs Clinton's already difficult case has just become even trickier to make.The BBC's Justin Webb says that with Mr Edwards's high-profile endorsement, Mrs Clinton's already difficult case has just become even trickier to make.
Mr Edwards was expected to make his endorsement alongside the Illinois senator at a rally in Michigan later on Wednesday. According to a tally by the Associated Press, Barack Obama has a total of 1,887 delegates, leaving him just 139 delegates short of the 2,026 needed to clinch the nomination, while Hillary Clinton has 1,718 delegates.