Obama and Clinton near finish line in Democratic race

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton neared the finish line of their dramatic Democratic presidential duel on Monday, with Obama poised to claim the nomination as Clinton faced the possible end of her bid.

Campaigning before the final two nominating contests in Montana and South Dakota, Obama promised to unify the party for the November election against Republican John McCain and said he and Clinton would be able to come together.

"Senator Clinton has run an outstanding race, she is an outstanding public servant, and she and I will be working together in November," Obama, an Illinois senator, said during a campaign stop in Troy, Michigan.

Obama said he told Clinton in a phone conversation on Sunday that "once the dust settled I was looking forward to meeting with her at a time and place of her choosing."

Clinton made a final campaign visit to South Dakota before she returns to New York on Tuesday for a rally that could be her farewell to a race she entered as a heavy favorite but now has almost no chance of winning.

Obama is fewer than 40 delegates shy of the 2,118 needed to clinch the win, and could reach the number quickly with help from some of the approximately 180 uncommitted superdelegates -- party officials who can back any candidate at the August nominating convention in Denver.

Obama gained seven more superdelegates on Monday, but the slow trickle of endorsements could turn into a flood as the voting ends in Montana and South Dakota, which have a combined 31 delegates at stake.

Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, the third-ranking Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives and the top-ranking black member of Congress, was among the superdelegates to back Obama on Monday.