WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama's presidential prospects are getting a boost from John Edwards' endorsement.

Four of the 19 delegates Edwards won before he dropped out of the race say they will support Obama. Edwards' delegates are not bound by his endorsement, but several have said that his endorsement will be important to them.

Obama also gained the endorsement of four more superdelegates today and a large labor union.

One of those superdelegates is Congressman Henry Waxman of California. In a statement, Waxman expressed his admiration for Hillary Rodham Clinton. But he says it's now clear "that the Democratic Party is nearing a broad consensus" on who should be the nominee.

Obama is now 131 delegates shy of the number he needs to clinch the nomination.

Also today, the United Steelworkers Union announced its support of Obama. The 600,000-member union had previously endorsed Edwards.


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