Hodes says Obama will be nominee; falls short of calling for Clinton withdrawal

Barack Obama and Paul HodesCongressman Paul Hodes (D-Concord), a Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) supporter, has stepped-into the debate over whether or not Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York) should drop-out of the presidential contest.

Hodes said Obama will be the Democratic presidential nominee but did not call for Clinton to withdraw.

"As the primary process winds down, the emerging consensus is clear that Barack Obama will be the party's nominee," Hodes said in a statement. "Senator Clinton is a tough campaigner and I am confident that she will make a decision about the future of her campaign in due course."

Earlier this week, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester), also an Obama supporter, told The Hill that she hoped Clinton was considering dropping out of the race.

"I think it's time for us to stand together and start attacking the position that the Republican nominee has taken," Shea-Porter told the paper.