FARGO - Hillary Clinton won't need "on-the-job training" to be president, former North Dakota Democratic Gov. George Sinner said as he attempted to boost Clinton's prospects in the state's presidential caucuses next week.

Sinner and his wife, Jane, were among a group of Clinton backers who held a news conference here Tuesday to explain their reasons for supporting the New York senator.

Clinton, because of her time as a senator and first lady in President Bill Clinton's administration, has the experience to work with Congress and world leaders, George Sinner said. Her principal rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, lacks that experience, he said.

"Actually, I think all of us like all of the Democratic candidates," Sinner said. "The problem is, we can't afford on-the-job training."

Gorman King Jr., a former North Dakota Democratic national committeeman, echoed the point. "The problems we are facing are so serious that amateur hour is over," King said.

North Dakota's Democrats and Republicans are holding presidential preference caucuses on Feb. 5. North Dakota and Minnesota are among a group of more than 20 states that are doing so.

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., who taped a television ad supporting Obama that is airing in North Dakota this week, said he believed the Illinois senator would be ready to serve as president "from day one."

"I've had the advantage of working with Sen. Obama day after day. I have seen what he is capable of," Conrad said. "He has a talent and an ability that simply goes beyond most anyone I have encountered in public life. This is a rare person."

Separately, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards postponed for two days a campaign visit to North Dakota that had been planned for today. A spokesman said Edwards plans to appear at the Fargo Labor Temple at 7:15 p.m. Friday.

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said the Texas congressman will be campaigning in North Dakota on Monday.

E-mails distributed to Paul's supporters in North Dakota said he would be speaking at Bismarck State College, but Charlene Nelson, Paul's North Dakota state coordinator, said Tuesday the location was still being decided.

Tom Daschle, a former South Dakota senator and Senate Democratic majority leader, planned campaign visits for Obama in Grand Forks and Fargo today.

Jane Sinner believes Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., his son, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., and his niece, Caroline Kennedy, are backing Obama because a Democratic Senate would have more influence over Obama's policy decisions.

"I believe the reason that the Kennedys gave their endorsement to Obama was because he's the weaker candidate and the Senate can control him," Jane Sinner said. "Hillary is really strong. She wouldn't let the Senate control her if she were president. That's a big difference."

Conrad said Obama showed his willingness to buck Senate colleagues' wishes when he pushed ethics and lobbying reform legislation.

"That showed, I'll tell you, extraordinary strength," Conrad said. "Here was a relatively new member doing things that a lot of our colleagues didn't want done."

Bill Clinton, who is campaigning for his wife, has drawn criticism for statements directed at Obama's record. Asked about Bill Clinton's role in the campaign, Jane Sinner said, "I would probably say, 'Bill, cool it a little bit, but stay with it.'"

"He gets a little heated," Jane Sinner said.