Clinton rallies troops, Obama adds backer

WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., rallied Capitol Hill supporters for the fight ahead while Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., picked up more backing.

Clinton urged her followers at a Washington meeting to bring an uncommitted friend as she sought to capitalize on her 41-percentage-point victory in the Democratic Party primary in West Virginia.

While claiming further that Clinton is the most electable Democratic candidate in the race, her campaign officials insisted she is in the fight until the final primary June 3.

Obama meanwhile picked up the endorsement of former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., whose appeal was largely to blue-collar workers.

Clinton said she is more competitive with precisely that category of voter and in districts where Democrats will face their toughest races this fall, The Hill, a Washington newpaper, reported Thursday.

Oregon and Kentucky have primary elections next Tuesday.