DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Democrat John Edwards has given his
long-awaited endorsement to Barack Obama.
It's a major boost from a former presidential rival as Obama
tries to shrug off Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is determined to
press ahead.
Edwards was to appear with Obama in Grand Rapids, Mich., as
Obama campaigns in a critical general election battleground.
The endorsement comes the day after Clinton defeated Obama by
more than 2-to-1 in West Virginia. The loss highlighted Obama's
work to win over the "Hillary Democrats" - white, working-class
voters who also supported Edwards in large numbers before he exited
the race.
Edwards, a former North Carolina senator and the 2004 vice
presidential nominee, dropped out of the race in late January.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)