Sen. John Edwards picked up another House endorsement for his presidential campaign Wednesday when Rep. Albert Wynn (D-Md.) announced his support for the North Carolina Democrat.

“I am enthusiastically endorsing John Edwards for president,” Wynn said in a statement. “He is deeply committed to the core principles of the Democratic Party: increasing access to health care, fighting for working families, protecting civil liberties, and expanding opportunities for minorities. In addition, he is the candidate that reaches the broadest cross-section of voters.”

Edwards acknowledged the endorsement in a statement released by his campaign: “Albert Wynn is part of an exciting, new generation of African-American leaders in this country. He’s a dynamic leader in the Congressional Black Caucus, the House of Representatives and the state of Maryland. I am honored to receive his endorsement today.”

Wynn is the eighth House Member to endorse Edwards for the Democratic presidential nomination. Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) leads the presidential primary field with 31 Congressional endorsements. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is second with 16, followed by Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), currently with 12 endorsements.

“It is not enough just to be anti-Bush; the Democratic nominee for president must also have the ability and the ideas necessary to lead the nation,” Wynn said. “At the end of the day, we need a president to lead the country in a new direction and John Edwards is the man for the job.”