AUGUSTA – Present and former leaders of the Maine Legislature pledged their support for Barack Obama as Democrats tried to unify the Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton factions before the end of the Democratic National Convention.

Senate President Beth Edmonds and House Speaker Glenn Cummings were joined Tuesday in their endorsements of Obama, who will become the Democrats’ nominee for president this week, by 13 other former House and Senate presiding officers. Edmonds, of Freeport, is a former Clinton supporter.

Another former leader who is supporting Obama is Michael Michaud, Maine’s 2nd District representative, who formerly supported John Edwards. Michaud was Senate president in 2001.

Other former Senate presidents endorsing Obama include Beverly Daggett, Mark Lawrence, Dennis Dutremble, Charles Pray and Gerard Conley Sr.

Former House speakers endorsing Obama include John Richardson, Pat Colwell, Michael Saxl, G. Steven Rowe, Elizabeth Mitchell, Dan Gwadosky and John Martin.

The pace of political activity in the presidential race also picked up on the presumptive Republican candidate’s side as John McCain’s campaign announced Monday that state Rep. Tom Saviello, an independent from Wilton, will serve as the chairman of Maine Citizens for McCain. The group is part of a national effort to attract support among Democrats and independents for McCain.

Saviello was elected as a Democrat to the Legislature in 2002 and 2004, and in 2005 he became an independent.