COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Seven South Carolina delegates once committed to former presidential candidate John Edwards are now endorsing Barack Obama.

The former North Carolina senator won eight delegates with a distant third place finish in South Carolina's primary in January and decided to leave the race.

On Friday, Marilyn Hemingway and Christine Bond confirmed they've joined five other delegates supporting Obama. The remaining delegate, Tim Moore of Barnwell, said he is not yet ready to commit to anyone other than Edwards.

The delegate support comes after Edwards publicly endorsed Obama earlier this week. Obama is considered the front-runner in the Democratic race for president, ahead of rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.