Edwards, Wednesday dropped out of the race to become the Democratic standard-bearer, saying it was time for him to step aside. The former senator from North Carolina consistently finished well behind Obama and Clinton in this year's primaries and caucuses.

Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, said Edwards "made the nation focus once again on who matters" by speaking out on eliminating poverty, as well as lunch-box and middle-class issues.

Clinton, in her second term as a senator from New York, said Edwards stood for "people too often left behind" and lifted the campaign "with his deep concern for ... the American people."

Edwards said he called both Clinton and Obama, asking them to make ending poverty a theme for their campaigns and in their administration, if elected. Both agreed, he said.

Edwards said he had no immediate endorsement plans.