Report: Edwards withdraws from US presidential race

Democrat John Edwards has decided to quit the presidential race today, reports said.

His removal will end a scrappy underdog bid in which he steered his rivals toward progressive ideals while grappling with family hardship that roused voters' sympathies, but never diverted his campaign.

The two-time White House candidate notified a close circle of senior advisers that he planned to make the announcement at 6pm Irish time event in New Orleans that had been billed as a speech on poverty.

The decision came after Edwards lost the four states to hold nominating contests so far to rivals who stole the spotlight from the beginning - Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.