PORTLAND — The National Organization for Women on Friday endorsed the man in Maine’s U.S. Senate race.

NOW officials said Rep. Tom Andrews had shown a strong commitment to women’s issues as they announced their backing of Andrews over his female rival, Rep. Olympia Snowe, at a Portland news conference.

“NOW’s first instinct is to strongly consider endorsing women. We are, after all, a national organization for women,” said Lois Reckitt of South Portland, a national board member of NOW. “Sometimes we have to look beyond gender to the issues.”

Rosemary Dempsey, national vice president of NOW, said the group decided to support Democrat Andrews over his Republican opponent because of his stronger support for increases in the minimum wage, issues important to gays and lesbians, and universal health care coverage.

In the past, NOW has consistently supported Andrews while usually remaining neutral in Snowe’s campaigns.

A spokeswoman for Snowe brushed off NOW’s endorsement, noting that the eight-term congresswoman has never had the group’s backing in the past.

“NOW generally endorses liberal Democrats, not Republicans,” said Abby Holman.

Snowe, a leader on women’s issues in Congress, has been endorsed by two groups that back pro-choice women in Congress: the National Women’s Political Caucus and the Women’s Campaign Fund. She is also co-chairwoman of the Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues.

A spokeswoman for NOW said the group supports more Democrats than Republicans, but over the years has endorsed a number of Republican women.

NOW’s endorsement is the latest attempt by Andrews to increase his support among women. Earlier this year, his campaign brought three female Democratic senators to Maine to campaign on his behalf.

Nationally, NOW claims nearly 250,000 members, including 1,000 members in Maine. Andrews is a member, while Snowe is not.

Andrews’ national NOW endorsement was based on the unanimous recommendation of its Maine chapter.