Carter to formally endorse Obama

Former President Jimmy Carter plans to endorse Barack Obama after the polls close tonight in Montana and South Dakota, the Associated Press is reporting this afternoon.

"The fact is the Obama people already know they have my vote when the polls close tonight," Carter told the AP.

Carter, a superdelegate, had remained neutral in the race but has praised Obama and has noted that his children, grandchildren, and their spouses back the Illinois senator.

Obama distanced himself from Carter's recent face-to-face talks with officials of Hamas, which has been declared a terrorist group by the US State Department.