WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Brotherhood of Carpenters announced today that it will endorse Senator John Edwards in
the Democratic Presidential Primary.

    "Our endorsement is based on the Senator's outspoken support for all of organized labor and his focus on America's working families," said Carpenters President Douglas J. McCarron.

    The Carpenters' early endorsement is unusual given that the union has made no endorsement in recent presidential primaries, and made no endorsement at all in the last presidential race.

    Senator Edwards met with the union's executive board and 35 key leaders from throughout the United States last week in Las Vegas. They voted
overwhelmingly to endorse Edwards following that meeting.

    "Edwards' active and visible support for trade unions, on picket lines and in the board rooms made him the obvious, and to our leadership, only
choice in this election," McCarron said.

    The formal endorsement will be made at a rally of union members on September 8th in New Hampshire.

    "In addition to his support for labor, our leadership was particularly impressed with the Senator's strong stand on trade," McCarron said. He added that the union is particularly concerned about the impact of NAFTA, the World Trade Organization and expanding trade agreements on middle class jobs in America. "We believe that Senator Edwards truly understands the impact these agreements have had on working Americans."

    "We also believe that Senator Edwards will have a great appeal in a general election. He has the ability to reach out to moderate voters, including the members of our union, and to address their very real concerns about jobs, health care and the economy," McCarron said.