CLEVELAND -- Democrat Dennis Kucinich, who has remained in the presidential race despite John Kerry's obvious lock on the party's nomination, will formally throw his support to the Massachusetts Democrat on Thursday.

The Ohio congressman, who has waged a long-shot bid for the right to challenge President Bush in November, will announce the endorsement during a joint appearance with Kerry in Detroit, according to spokesmen for both candidates.

Kerry returns to the campaign trail Thursday to address a conference of the National Urban League after four days in Nantucket, Mass., where he spent time preparing for next week's Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Doug Gordon, a spokesman for Kucinich, said the congressman looked forward to the endorsement.

"The congressman looks forward to appearing with John Kerry tomorrow and unifying the Democratic Party in support of Senator Kerry's winning bid for the White House," Gordon said.