Ted Kennedy, the most senior Democratic senator and the torchbearer of the Kennedy dynasty, will today endorse Barack Obama's candidacy, in a move that could provide the 46-year-old presidential aspirant with a critical boost just a week ahead of the Super Tuesday primary.

The move, which follows yesterday's endorsement of Mr Obama by Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's daughter, comes after Mr Obama's crushing victory over Hillary Clinton in the South Carolina primary on Saturday in a vote that was boosted by a surge in African-American support for Mr Obama.