Top Democratic and Republican White House candidates flocked to the International Association of Fire Fighters’ Presidential Forum Wednesday in an effort to get a leg up in securing the powerful union’s endorsement for 2008.

Democratic frontrunners Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), Barack Obama (Ill.) and former vice presidential candidate John Edwards addressed the union, as did Republican candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).

The forum also heard from Sens. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), as well as former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore (R), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.).

Of the top declared candidates, according to recent polls, only former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) did not address the group.

While it is likely that the union will endorse a Democrat, McCain still attended to share his vision about the war in Iraq and to pay homage to firefighters.

“I welcome the opportunity to pay tribute to Americans who choose to rush into burning buildings that others flee and who, today, stand posed on the front lines of this difficult struggle against terrorists who employ any means, no matter how cruel, to bring their war against human progress to our cities,” McCain said.

Many of the candidates sought to woo the union by supporting programs that fund firefighters and make communication between first responders easier.