House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) issued a statement today expressing support for Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) presidential candidacy, but stopped short of a formal endorsement.

"Over the last 18 months, Senator Barack Obama has energized and excited millions of voters who believe that our great nation must move in a new direction," Hoyer said in a statement to PolitickerMD.com. "He is the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee, and I look forward to supporting his candidacy."

Hoyer also thanked Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) for her "incredible contributions," saying she had made "our party and country so proud."

"It is my great respect for Senator Clinton that moves me to give her some time to address her future before making a formal endorsement of Senator Obama, which I expect to do in the coming days," Hoyer said.

The majority leader also said he had "no doubt" that the Democratic Party "will unite around our common values and our common goal of winning back the White House."

"Senator McCain has made clear he intends to continue the disastrous policies of the current administration," Hoyer said. "We cannot afford a third Bush term. I am confident the American people will enthusiastically concur and choose the ‘change that we can believe in' with a Democratic president in November."