Obama in meeting with Edwards

US presidential hopeful Barack Obama made a campaign detour to North Carolina to meet with former rival John Edwards, who has yet to make an endorsement in the race for the Democratic nomination.

The Obama campaign confirmed the meeting which had been reported by local TV in North Carolina.

Mr Obama left reporters behind to fly down in secret from his hometown for a meeting with Mr Edwards.

“Senator Obama visited this morning with John and Elizabeth Edwards at their home in Chapel Hill to discuss the state of the campaign and the pressing issues facing American families,” said Mr Obama’s spokesman Bill Burton.

He would not comment on the possibility of an endorsement for Mr Obama who is in a desperately close race with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for the White House.

Since Mr Edwards quit the Democratic race, Mr Obama has often praised him in public.

This week he told Wisconsin voters that Mr Edwards will “be a major voice in the Democratic party for years to come, and I want him involved and partnering with me in moving this country forward”.