The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Sierra Club announced separately yesterday that they would endorse Barack Obama for president.

“Barack Obama has mobilized a historic movement to reclaim the greatness of America,” said AFSCME President Gerald McEntee. “With his leadership, our nation will rise up to rebuild the middle class at home and restore America’s reputation in the world.”

Only last month, McEntee was one of organized labor’s most outspoken critics of Obama, professing grave doubts about his qualifications as the Democratic presidential nominee. “I think he has a problem with the blue-collar worker and relating to that worker,” McEntee said.

Asked about the change in his estimation of Obama from one month ago, McEntee said that he and other AFSCME officials had changed their views of the candidate after extensive meetings with his staff and with Obama himself in Washington in the past two days. “We’ve had an opportunity . . . to sort out our differences to move ahead,” he said. “We have changed positions. He’s more sure-footed. We fought like hell for Hillary, no question about that, and at times it was tough on the campaign trail, but now we’re prepared and ready,” McEntee said, to back Obama.

Labor is coming around to Obama, but will the members help put Obama in the White House?