Members of his team said the former North Carolina senator had decided not to continue to Super Tuesday next week.

He lost Iowa's caucuses, came third in New Hampshire, admitted getting his "butt kicked" in Nevada and came third in his native South Carolina.

The two-time candidate reportedly plans to make a statement soon.

It is not yet clear if the 54 year-old will endorse either of the two current Democratic front-runners, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

His withdrawal leaves the Democratic contest to be the party's presidential nominee as a two-horse race, say correspondents, pitting the New York senator and former First Lady against the Illinois senator.

Mr Edwards was the Democrats' nominee for vice-president in 2004.

His spokeswoman Colleen Murray told AFP news agency that Mr Edwards would publicly announce the end to his White House bid in New Orleans, where he formally launched his campaign in 2006.

Mr Edwards's campaign website said he was scheduled to make a speech on poverty at a community project in the flood-ravaged Louisiana city on Wednesday 1300 local time (1900 GMT).