Will the support of Hillary and Bill Clinton give Barack Obama the edge?

Last Modified: 27 Aug 2008
By: Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith reports on whether the Clintons' endorsements can make the difference for Barack Obama.

It is another day of Clinton-watching here in Denver, as the defeated candidate, Hillary puts a brave face on it and declares herself to be a "proud supporter" of Barack Obama.

But her backing arguably did not go as far as it could have.

So will it be enough to win over the rump of her supporters that Obama desperately needs?

Ahead of former president Bill Clinton's speech, polling shows the race is very tight, and that America remains as divided as ever.

Since June, both Senator Obama and Senator McCain have had the support of just under half the electorate.

By Monday 44 per cent of national registered voters supported the Democrat, to the Republican's 46 per cent.

That suggests Barack Obama did not get any discernable boost from choosing Joe Biden as his running mate. The prospective VP is due to speak tonight, as is former President Bill Clinton.