"We have such important work to do in this country," the Star Tribune quoted Edwards as saying. "I think we\'ve had enough of a president kowtowing to big money and the big corporations."

In recent primaries and caucuses for the Democratic presidential nomination, Edwards has run third behind Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Several unions, including the United Steelworkers, the Carpenters and the United Mine Workers have endorsed Edwards.

Photos by Michael Kuchta, North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters