U.S. Democratic Presidential candidate
and former Senator John Edwards (D-NC) shakes his fist as he campaigns at
the Friendship Haven Celebration Center in Fort Dodge, Iowa Jan. 1,
2008.(Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
WASHINGTON, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Former Democratic
presidential candidate John Edwards has decided to endorse Barack Obama as the
party's nominee, said a TV report on Wednesday.
The former North Carolina Senator was set to announce
his endorsement on Wednesday night when appearing with Illinois Senator Obama in
Grand Rapids, Michigan, according to a CNN report.
The move, which came a day after Hillary Rodham
Clinton won big in the West Virginia primary, is considered by U.S. media as a
big boost for Obama's bid for the first African American president in the
country.
Edwards, the 2004 vice presidential nominee, dropped
out of the race in late January since he was far behind trailing the third in
the primaries and caucuses and saw no space in the tied competition between
Obama and Clinton.
Beside boost to his campaign, Obama can also take
away with the 19 delegates that Edwards has gained in the primary season.
Since Edwards quit the race, the speculation has been
on whether Obama or Clinton could benefit his endorsement.
He was seen before the South Carolina primary having
private talks with Clinton, while he has once shared Obama's message to bring
changes to Washington.
According to a Yahoo poll in January, 40 percent of
Edwards' supporters said that their second choice in the race is Clinton, and
about 25 percent prefers Obama.
In his first bid for the White House, Edwards dropped
out the presidential nomination race on March 3, 2004. Then he endorsed the
nominee, John Kerry, and became the vice presidential candidate.
As the son of a millworker, Edwards has appealed to
voters with his "underdog" story and vow to protect labor rights. His wife,
Elizabeth, who is suffering from cancer, also boosted support to him.
Among his populist messages, the cores are fighting
poverty, afford universal health care coverage and reducing influence of special
interest groups in Washington, which were embraced by a number of
voters.
WASHINGTON, May 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic presidential candidates Barack
Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton have agreed to raise money together for the
party despite their fierce nomination contest, the party's headquarters said on
Wednesday.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) said it had signed
agreement with New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Illinois Senator
Barack Obama to begin raising money together for a newly-established body,
Democratic White House Victory Fund.
WASHINGTON, May 14
(Xinhua) -- Both Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary
Rodham Clinton can beat their Republican rival John McCain in the November
general elections, according to a poll released on Wednesday.
The New Quinnipiac University poll found that Illinois Senator
Barack Obama could beat presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain
by 47 percent to 40 percent, while New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton could
lead McCain at 46 percent to 41 percent. Full story
