TROY, Mich. (AP) — Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama got an enthusiastic welcome Monday from Michigan voters who appreciated his talk about the need to do more to help workers worried about losing their jobs, health care benefits and pensions.

But the Illinois senator still is relatively unknown in this vital Midwestern industrial state, a state he likely needs to win in order to gain the White House.

"He does have a few steps that he needs to gain here. But I think he's on his way," Obama supporter Mark Broomfield, 34, of Grosse Pointe said after the candidate's town hall event at Troy High School in Oakland County. "It looks from the turnout here and the response that he's on his way to reconciling."

Obama made his second visit to Michigan in three weeks to introduce himself to voters. He avoided the state for 10 months because Michigan broke Democratic National Committee rules by moving its presidential primary to Jan. 15.

And momentum for him seems to be building. He picked up two more Michigan superdelegates on Monday, giving him a total of seven and tying the number rival Hillary Rodham Clinton has in the state.

Before Obama took the stage at the Troy event, Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence told the crowd that she was supporting the front-runner. Michigan Education Association Executive Director Lu Battaglieri also told The Associated Press he also is endorsing Obama.

A crowd of at least 1,000 people at the high school in Oakland County north of Detroit warmly welcomed Obama's promises to "make sure our economy is working for everybody."

He said Michigan was a great place to create alternative-fueled vehicles and more into the alternative energy field.

He also promised to do more for education.

"Troy High School is one of the best schools in the country," Obama said. "I want the kids in Detroit to get the same education."

Later in the day, Obama visited a Rite Aid distribution plant in northern Oakland County's Waterford Township to talk to workers about hardships they face in coping with the poor economy.

Obama won 59 Michigan delegates Saturday during a raucous DNC rules committee meeting even though he wasn't on the ballot here. Hillary Rodham Clinton will get 69. But each delegate will get only half a vote.

A recent statewide poll shows Obama slightly trailing Republican rival John McCain in Michigan.