Edwards to endorse Obama

Former presidential candidate John Edwards will endorse Barack Obama's Democratic White House bid, a campaign spokeswoman said.

The endorsement of Senator Edwards, who has been openly courted, provides a big boost to the Illinois senator in his effort to rally the party around his candidacy.

Mr Edwards, the 2004 vice presidential nominee, dropped out of the Democratic race in January. He will make the endorsement at a Grand Rapids rally.

"I confirm the endorsement," of John Edwards, Mr Obama's spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

The move comes the day after Mr Obama was blown out by 41 points by Mrs Clinton in a nominating contest in West Virginia, but the loss was not enough to put much of a dent in his lead in the Democratic race.

Mr Obama retains an almost unassailable advantage in delegates who will select the Democratic nominee at the party convention in August.

He has gained the support of three more superdelegates, who are free to back any candidate, and the abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Mr Obama spent the day in Michigan looking past the race with Mrs Clinton to focus on a likely November match-up with Republican John McCain. He said the Arizona senator "is not offering new solutions or economic policies that are different from what George Bush has given us for eight long years."

Mrs Clinton returned to Washington for a round of media interviews and meetings with top donors.

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