WASHINGTON, June 7: The former American first lady Hillary Clinton on Saturday endorsed Senator Barack Obama and urged her supports to do all they can to help him move to the White House on Nov 4.

The endorsement, announced at a big rally in Washington, ends a 17-month contest between the two Democratic candidates that at times appeared to have clouded their party’s chances of winning the presidential election.

“The way to continue our fight now … is to take our energy, our passions, our strengths and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama, the next president of the United States,” she declared amid thunderous applause from a large crowd.

“Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him. And I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me.”

Joining her on stage were her husband, former president Bill Clinton, and their daughter, Chelsea, before she took their leave as she addressed the crowd.

Mrs Clinton, who would have been the first woman presidential candidate of a major US party had she won the primaries, said she would continue her struggle to further empower the women.

“I will continue to stand strong with you ... the dreams we share are worth fighting for,” she said.

Senator Obama, who made history as the first Black candidate of a major party, did not attend the event and spent Saturday in his hometown of Chicago.

Since both wanted to make history, either as the first Black or the first woman president of the US, they continued their fight for more than 17 months and participated in 57 contests.

The National Public Radio, America’s most respected radio station, observed that their race “was as gruelling as it was groundbreaking.”