by Jill Zuckman
Soon, Sen. Barack Obama will be able to boast of a big plum in the race for president.
It's a plum that will offer him money, votes and boots on the ground as he works to turn out support for his candidacy.
The AFL-CIO General Board, made up of leaders from 56 unions, began voting Tuesday by fax and will continue voting through Thursday morning on whether to endorse Obama for president. An announcement is expected by tomorrow afternoon.
"Working families hold the key to turning around our country this election year," said AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman. "We look forward to heading into this election with a strong, unified labor program that will engage union voters like never before."
Currently, the AFL-CIO is spending $53.4 million to persuade its members and their families not to vote for Sen. John McCain for president. If the General Board votes to endorse, it will expand its message to persuade members to support Obama.
The AFL-CIO is targeting 24 states and more than 13 million voters with direct mail, phone calls, door knocking, and worksite visits. In states like Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, union voters make up 25-35 percent of the total vote.
Obama has a 98 percent rating from the AFL-CIO during his brief time in the Senate compared to McCain's lifetime rating of just 16 percent.
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Comments
As a member of a union, I know the rank and file of our union, will be out there, working hard to get those union-busting Republicans out of our government !! That includes all of those Bush appointees, who are operating strictly according to the Republican agenda, as incompetent as they may be !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | June 25, 2008 11:13 AM
This is great news!
Union members have learned the hard way to vote in their own economic best interests and not be swayed by the swift boat fear and smear that's already under way.
Posted by: Doug "Hussein" Zook | June 25, 2008 11:14 AM
Unions know who's an elitist and who's not.
Posted by: Grandblvd03 | June 25, 2008 12:45 PM
Grandblvd03,
And that'd be the 35 year in Congress U.S. Senator married to the legacy beer baroness with 8 homes & their own private jet.
Okie dokey?
Posted by: Doug "Hussein" Zook | June 25, 2008 1:22 PM
As an Italian with family stooped in Unions anyone that thinks the rank and file care one bit about the backroom deals that the higher ups cut with political candidates need to really think again. They vote how they please and could care less what they are told to do. Now the one thing it does give Obama is money. This is a special interest money boon to Obama nothing more.
Posted by: Vinny | June 25, 2008 4:57 PM
They actually take a vote on this sort of thorny decision? Wow. Unions have really evolved.
Posted by: Django Scott - Houston, Tx | June 25, 2008 5:47 PM
Vinny hits it - the rank and file of the trade unions will vote McCain. Now that won't offset the gov't unions of AFSMCE and the NEA. Also, the lower paid union workers such as Doug's SEIU will go Obama.
FITZ - what union do you belong do - the International Brotherhood of Bloggers? You sit on your fanny all day, 24/7, responding to SWAMP postings. Now I get it - you are an Irish guy, from Chicago, you must be one of Richie's ghost payrollers. That CPS education is paying off.
Posted by: Terry | June 25, 2008 8:42 PM
Vinny hits it - the rank and file of the trade unions will vote McCain. Now that won't offset the gov't unions of AFSMCE and the NEA. Also, the lower paid union workers such as Doug's SEIU will go Obama.
FITZ - what union do you belong do - the International Brotherhood of Bloggers? You sit on your fanny all day, 24/7, responding to SWAMP postings. Now I get it - you are an Irish guy, from Chicago, you must be one of Richie's ghost payrollers. That CPS education is paying off.
Posted by: Terry | June 25, 2008 8:42 PM
Terry,
For the record, SEIU janitors, in places like Sears Tower and Marina Towers are the highest paid, with the best benefit package, of any janitors in the United States, and I'm damn proud to say I was a part of making that happen.
Posted by: Doug "Hussein" Zook | June 26, 2008 8:31 AM
Suprise, Suprise the AFL-CIO are going to endorse Democrat Barack Hussein Obama. When have they ever endorsed a Republican. Each election this is a compulsory story for the liberal Associated Press to tout till November. Who cares? The power of the unions is only about 15 percent what it was in FDR's time. Don Fitzgeral get over it. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | June 26, 2008 9:52 AM