RALEIGH, N.C. — Rep. Brad Miller endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday, becoming the third North Carolina superdelegate to pledge support to the Illinois senator since his convincing win in the state's primary.

Miller met with Obama in Washington on Thursday afternoon and said afterward that Obama has shown he can inspire people and bring fundamental change to the country.

"I see this year as an opportunity to really build a consensus that can last a generation," Miller said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Obama now has the support of nine superdelegates from North Carolina, including state Democratic Party chief Jerry Meek. Rival Hillary Rodham Clinton has the support of three state superdelegates, including Gov. Mike Easley.

There are five uncommitted superdelegates remaining, and Miller said Obama's afternoon meeting included two of them - Reps. Bob Etheridge and Mike McIntyre. McIntyre's staff did not return calls seeking comment, and an Etheridge spokeswoman said the meeting did not immediately sway his vote.

"The congressman had a nice meeting with the senator, but he still does not have any plans to endorse," said spokeswoman Joanne Peters.

Miller declined to urge other superdelegates to follow his lead and said he would not call on Clinton to exit the race given her deepening delegate deficit.

"She has given a year-and-a-half of her life to this campaign," Miller said. "We are in sight of the finish line. If she wants to continue this campaign, I certainly don't fault her for that."

Another uncommitted superdelegate, Statesville attorney David Parker, echoed those comments and cited them as a reason to stay undecided until the end of the primary season. He noted that new registrations and independents voting in the Democratic primary would only help in future elections.

"I don't think three more weeks of this exercise is going to hurt," Parker said.

Obama won North Carolina's primary by 14 points Tuesday. As of Wednesday, Obama's delegate total reached 1,849.5 compared with 1,697 for Clinton, according to a count by The Associated Press. A candidate needs 2,025 to win the nomination in August.