COLUMBIA, S.C. – Barack Obama’s nod from John Edwards Wednesday is paying off — big time.

According to the Associated Press, Obama has picked up four of Edwards’ delegates and the approval of the United Steelworkers Union, which has 600,000 active members.

All that means Obama’s delegate total is only 134 short of those needed to get the nomination. Edwards has 19 delegates in three states. The AP says those delegates can choose whomever they want, “but several have said Edwards’ endorsement is important to their decision.”