By John Nolan
The Associated Press

CINCINNATI - Saying that 90,000 of their members have lost jobs since President Bush took office, leaders of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers listened Friday to two Democrats seeking to challenge Bush in 2004.

Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean take turns speaking at a meeting of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. (Associated Press photos)

The concern wasn't lost on Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt, who each addressed an audience of about 700 union members wearing T-shirts with the message "Jobs! Worth Fighting For." Union members repeatedly stood, cheered and whistled as Dean and Gephardt accused Bush of ignoring what they described as the plight of middle-class workers.

After hearing from both candidates, the elected union leaders voted 411 to 157 to endorse Gephardt. Then by voice vote, delegates chose to make the endorsement of the Missouri congressman unanimous. The union represents more than 720,000 active and retired members.

It was Gephardt's sixth and largest union endorsement.

Union president Tom Buffenbarger said the union sided with Gephardt because he is a longtime friend of labor.

" Dean, who spoke first, had already left the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center by the time the vote result was announced.

Gephardt waited in another room, then emerged to thank the union members for the endorsement.

Dean assumed going in that the machinists' union was "Gephardt turf," Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi said.

The union in January invited the campaigns to send candidates to address the meeting Friday, but had not heard from the others, Buffenbarger told the union members.