DES MOINES — Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Edwards made their appeals to Iowa union members on Labor Day, promising to strengthen the country’s middle class and make life better for working Americans.

The two White House contenders appeared at a union Labor Day celebration at the Iowa State Fairgrounds hoping to win over a key voting bloc in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.

Both candidates pushed the ideas of health-care reforms and making it easier to organize labor unions. They talked about their experiences walking picket lines.

Clinton argued for changing the direction of the country and putting it back on the right track with implementing universal health care, rebuilding the middle class and restoring America’s leadership around the world.

“Ultimately, what matters is whether or not we’ve improved people’s lives here in America,” Clinton said. “That’s how I keep score in politics. It’s not who’s up or who’s down or what the polls say, it’s whether when I stop, you’re better off than when I started.”

Clinton brought in her husband, former President Bill Clinton, to help make the case for her and touted the millions of jobs created during his administration.

Bill Clinton called his wife the best-qualified and best-prepared candidate and urged the crowd to support her, “because she’ll never forget you and how you live, and what your dreams and hopes are.”

Leslie and Imogene Steele, retired farmers and Democrats from Deep River are behind Clinton in the Iowa caucuses, citing her experience.

“She’s been around a long time, that lady. Done a lot of good things,” Leslie Steele said.

Edwards celebrated the Labor Day holiday by picking up the endorsements of two major labor unions, the United Steelworkers and the United Mine Workers of America.

He said strengthening the labor movement is crucial to growing America’s middle class.

“I will be the president who walks out on the White House lawn and says the word ‘union,’ who walks out on the White House lawn and makes certain that America understands the importance of the organized labor movement in the history of America,” Edwards said.

Ann Kuhlman, of Mason City, carried a sign to show her support for Edwards. She is impressed with his policy proposals, including his health-care plan.

“I think he’s very, very thoughtful and would provide a thoughtful presidency,” Kuhlman said.

Edwards on Monday pushed his plan for universal health care, noting the number of uninsured has grown to 47 million and insurance premiums have jumped.

“When are we finally going to stand up to drug companies, insurance companies and their lobbyists in Washington, D.C., and create one health-care system for everyone in America?” Edwards said to cheers.