Washington: Democrat Barack Obama promised Americans a clean break from Washington's politics-as-usual as he campaigned today to sew up the Democratic presidential nomination and rally more superdelegates to his side.

Since Obama's convincing win in North Carolina on Tuesday over rival Clinton and their photo-finish in Indiana, 12 more of the Democratic Party elite who have a say on the nomination contest have swung over to the Illinois senator, including seven in 24 hours.

The trickle of support is predicted to turn into a flood, with only six primaries now left in their marathon battle to carry the party's flag into the November presidential elections against Republican John McCain.

Former candidate John Edwards, who dropped out of the close race in late January, stopped short of endorsing Obama yesterday, but said he has virtually wrapped up the contest ahead of the last primaries on June 3. "Let's just assume that Barack is the nominee because it's headed in that direction," he told NBC television.

He added he thought Obama, who is on a historic quest to be the country's first black president, also had a "better chance" to beat McCain. While the former first lady had fought a good campaign, "the problem is the numbers," Edwards said, referring to the 2,025 delegates needed to secure the party's nomination.

Clinton, who is also seeking to make history by being the first woman elected commander-in-chief, trails Obama in the number of pledged delegates to the party's nominating convention in August.
Source : PTI