Edwards hands Obama key endorsement (Roundup)

Washington - Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama received the endorsement Wednesday of John Edwards, the former presidential candidate whose support was urgently courted by rival candidate Hillary Clinton, too. Democratic Presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama holds an economic discussion at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan, USA on 14 May 2008. Obama said that if he was elected he would meet with automakers to help strengthen their industry. EPA/JEFF KOWALSKY

Democratic Presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama holds an economic discussion at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan, USA on 14 May 2008. Obama said that if he was elected he would meet with automakers to help strengthen their industry. EPA/JEFF KOWALSKY'The Democratic voters in America have made their choice, and so have I,' Edwards said at an Obama campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The endorsement came one day after Clinton handily defeated Obama in West Virgina's presidential primary Tuesday by a 40 percentage- point margin. Edwards, who spent spent much of his short-lived campaign with a populist theme of decrying 'two Americas' split between haves and have-nots, dropped out of the race on January 30 after disappointing finishes in state-by-state voting in the early fight for the nomination. Reaching back to his own campaign theme, Edwards said that Obama could achieve 'one America, not two,' and he hailed the Illinois senator's 'bold leadership.' Edwards is a former US senator from North Carolina who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, when he settled for the vice presidential nomination as the running mate of John Kerry. The Democratic ticket was defeated in the general election by President George Bush. Edwards referred to Clinton and Obama as 'my friends' and described them as 'two amazing candidates.' He praised the former first lady as 'made of steel.' Democrats are worried that the prolonged race between Obama and Clinton could harm their ability to defeat presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in the November 4 election. In another blow to Clinton Wednesday, one of the largest abortion- rights groups in the United States threw its weight behind Obama. NARAL Pro-Choice America endorsed Obama, even though it had for years backed Clinton, who has a long history of supporting women's rights to abortion. 'He steadfastly supports and defends a woman's right to make the most personal, private decisions regarding her reproductive health without interference from government or politicians,' said Nancy Keenan, the group's president. Keenan praised Clinton as an 'outstanding' candidate with a solid record of protecting women's rights. 'Americans have been fortunate to have two fully pro-choice candidates in the race for the Democratic nomination,' Keenan said. 'But only one can go forward to the general election.' McCain opposes abortion. Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee reached a deal with the Clinton and Obama campaigns that allows it to begin raising money for the party's bid for the White House, regardless of who winds up with the nomination.