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The International Brotherhood of Teamsters reversed its previous plan not to endorse a presidential candidate and threw its support behind Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday -- a move that could help the Illinois Democrat cinch his party's nomination in union-heavy states.

Teamsters President James P. Hoffa cited Obama's support for renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement in deciding to make the endorsement.

"He's the first major candidate since Ralph Nader to call for renegotiating NAFTA," Hoffa said. "He is the candidate in the best position to lead our movement to restore the American dream for working people in this country."

Many unions have cited NAFTA as a reason for the decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs. Since 2000, the United States has lost 3 million manufacturing jobs. Michigan has led the nation in manufacturing jobs lost, losing more than 200,000 since 2000.

Hoffa will attend a rally with Obama in Ohio on Friday, along with several union leaders, he said during a call with reporters. Obama also picked up the endorsement Wednesday of the 65,000-member International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. Earlier this month, Obama won the endorsement of the 1.9 million-member Service Employees International Union and the 1.3 million-member United Food and Commercial Workers. He is expected to win the backing of the 5 million-member Change to Win union coalition.

The Teamsters have a big presence in key upcoming primaries, including 62,000 members in Ohio, 34,000 in Texas and 83,000 in Pennsylvania.

"Our members do listen," Hoffa said in a Detroit News interview.