Clinton to back Obama on Friday: campaign

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton will express support for Barack Obama's White House bid and Democratic Party unity in the race against Republican John McCain at an event on Friday, her campaign said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement did not say if Clinton would formally end her campaign or suspend activities. Obama clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday, but Clinton so far has refused to concede.

"Senator Clinton will be hosting an event in Washington, D.C. on Friday to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity," the statement said.

Clinton campaign aides have not confirmed reports that the New York senator would suspend her campaign and endorse Obama. Clinton spent the day talking to supporters, many of whom urged her to halt her campaign activities now that Obama has clinched the nomination.

(Reporting by John Whitesides; Editing by Eric Walsh)