ATLANTA —  Former President Carter said Tuesday he will endorse Democrat Barack Obama after the last two states vote.

"The fact is the Obama people already know they have my vote when the polls close tonight," Carter told The Associated Press after speaking at the Georgia World Congress Center Tuesday afternoon.

His comments came as Obama clinched the nomination, according to a tally of convention delegates by The Associated Press.

Carter, a superdelegate, has remained officially neutral in the race but has offered strong hints that he would end up in Obama's corner. He has noted that his children, grandchildren and their spouses back the Illinois senator.

Carter also recently urged Obama's rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, to abandon her White House bid in early June at the latest.

The former president had been one of the highest profile Democrats who had yet to make a pick in the long presidential primary.

His spokeswoman, Deanna Congilio, said there were no plans for any additional statement.

South Dakota and Montana were holding the last primaries.

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Associated Press Writer Shannon McCaffrey contributed to this report

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