John Edwards backs Barack Obama

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards stunned the media, the blogosphere, Washington and the world at large with a surprise endorsement of US Senator Barack Obama before a raucous rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Wednesday night.

Most likely to be stunned, however, is US Senator Hillary Clinton, whose bid for the Presidency appears to have suffered a mortal wound. Losing Edwards' support, one of the most popular Democrats in the must-have Southern States, leaves Clinton will precious few big-name endorsements, as she also lost to Obama New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and bigwig US Senator Ted Kennedy. This emphatic renunciation from the top-rungs of the party, when coupled with her dearth of delegates and superdelegates, leave Hillary with no foot to stand on.

Edwards' appearance was announced barely an hour before the huge rally commenced, and brought the crowd to frenzied cheers.

Reports said that Edwards told the crowd, "Democratic voters have made their choice and so have I…There's one who understands the need to create one America, not two Americas, and that man is Barack Obama."

He went on to compliment Hillary, saying she had shown fortitude, before ultimately urging Democrats to unite against the presumptive Republican candidate, John McCain.

Edwards, who formed the second-half of the ultimately unsuccessful Kerry-Edwards ticket in 2004, dropped his own Presidential bid in late January after several third place finishes. Those contests left him 19 pledged delegates, but they are not bound to vote for Obama following yesterday's announcement, and are free to vote how they please at the Democratic National Convention in August. Still, it's apparent that Edwards' endorsement will carry weight, as at least one Superdelegate has seen the move as a death-knell for Hillary, and thrown his support to Obama, who's now not only beating Hillary in the popular vote and pledged delegate categories, but also the slippery superdelegates 

Obama followed Edwards speech with one of his own, wherein he promised to end the War in Iraq next year, injecting a few barbs at the current administration for its bungling of the war and its mistreatment of returning veterans. He also pledged to cut poverty in half, should he become President.

Images: Obama and Edwards at the rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Wednesday night. Photograph: Mark Wilson/GettyImages