Edwards Backs Obama In Democratic Race

CHICAGO | John Edwards, whose populism was the anthem of his own presidential bid, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday evening in an effort to transfer his appeal among white, working-class voters who have so far proved a challenge for the Democratic front-runner.

Obama's campaign hopes the endorsement, late in the process, will help buttress the aura of inevitability of the Illinois senator's quest for his party's nomination. It also served as a strong counterpoint to the contention of Sen. Hillary Clinton that Obama's weakness among blue-collar workers could cripple his effort in the fall.

While the value of any endorsement is always subject to scrutiny, both candidates had aggressively sought support from Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2004 and a favorite among union voters.

The two men and one-time rivals stood together on a stage in Grand Rapids, Mich., where Edwards first praised Clinton before explaining his decision to back Obama.

"The reason that I am here tonight is because the Democratic voters in America have made their choice, and so have I," he said. "There is one man who knows and understands that this is a time for bold leadership. There is one man that knows how to create the change, the lasting change, that you have to build from the ground up."

The backing from Edwards, the son of a mill worker, could give Obama a significant boost not just with a key demographic, but also with the party leaders and elected officials who are ultimately expected to determine the nomination through their status as superdelegates.

The announcement overshadowed interviews Clinton had done with several television networks that focused on her overwhelming, 41-point victory in the Tuesday's West Virginia primary, a win that had reignited questions about Obama's ability to attract white, working-class voters.

Before leaving the race, Edwards had won 19 national convention delegates. He has the power to release them and presumably will encourage them to vote for Obama, further widening the delegate advantage he already enjoys.

Edwards called for party unity once a nominee is picked, as he spoke to an audience Obama's campaign said totaled more than 12,000.

"When this nomination battle is over, and it will be over soon, brothers and sisters we must come together as Democrats and in the fall stand up for what matters for the future of America," the former North Carolina senator said.

Many of Edwards' former staff members and advisers, including David Bonior, his former national campaign chairman, had already declared their support for Obama.

Clinton's campaign, meanwhile, greeted the endorsement by pointing to Tuesday's vote.

"We have a lot of respect for Sen. Edwards, but as West Virginia voters showed last night, this race is far from over," Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said in a statement.

Obama called Edwards "one of the greatest leaders we have in the Democratic Party," as he pledged to fight poverty and work for affordable health care for all, both signature issues for his newest supporter.

"Great speech," Obama whispered, as the two men shook hands as Edwards finished. Obama then told the audience: "I haven't been seeing John as much, so I forgot how good he is."