New York City ? Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton was endorsed Saturday by retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who sought the party’s nomination in 2004 and whose sterling military credentials could bolster her bid to be the first female commander in chief.

Clark, the former supreme allied commander of NATO, praised the New York senator as “a remarkable person” with the skills and experience to be president.

“She will be a great leader for the United States of America and a great commander in chief for the men and women in uniform,” Clark told reporters in a conference call with the former first lady.

Clinton welcomed Clark’s endorsement as a “real sign of confidence” in her ability to lead the military as president. “He and I have been friends for 25 years, and I am deeply admiring of his leadership,” she said.

But Clinton also sidestepped questions about a newspaper ad by the liberal group MoveOn.org that criticized the top military commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus. She has refused to condemn the ad, which referred to Petraeus as “General Betray-Us.”