US:As the Democratic presidential race narrowed yesterday with the withdrawal of New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, the party's candidate in 2004, John Kerry, endorsed Barack Obama.
Mr Kerry announced his endorsement at a rally in South Carolina, which holds its primary in two weeks and where up to half of Democratic voters are expected to be African-American.
"Martin Luther King jnr said the time is always right to do what is right. And I'm here in South Carolina because this is the right time to share with you, to make sure that we know that I have the confidence . . . and that Barack Obama can be, will be and should be the next president of the United States," Mr Kerry said.
Mr Richardson, who came fourth in Iowa and New Hampshire, had become a marginal figure in the race, which is looking ever more like a two-person contest between Mr Obama and Hillary Clinton.
John Edwards, now the only other candidate in the race, yesterday congratulated Mr Richardson on running a good campaign. "He was a very good candidate, a serious candidate. I congratulate him. He ought to be proud of what he's done. What's happened is, over time the race is becoming more focused. I think that's good for democracy. I think this thing's going on for a long time," Mr Edwards said.
Mr Kerry's endorsement of Mr Obama came just over a week before a caucus in Nevada, where Mrs Clinton has led in the polls but Mr Obama is mounting a strong challenge. The Illinois senator received an important boost earlier this week when the state's two biggest unions endorsed him.
Union support and the organisational muscle it brings can be crucial in caucuses as these demand more commitment from voters than primaries, which are conventional elections.
Before her surprise win in New Hampshire on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton had considered skipping Nevada and South Carolina but she travelled to Las Vegas yesterday and her campaign says she will fight vigorously in both states.
Republicans John McCain and Mitt Romney are in the lead in Michigan, which votes on Tuesday, although former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee hopes his brand of economic populism will make an impact in the state, which is undergoing a recession.
The Republican candidates were due to meet in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, last night for a televised debate. South Carolina Republicans vote on January 19th.