Unions in push to help Democrats win Congress ($40,000,000) [View All]

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http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-02-28T004401Z_01_N27377491_RTRUKOC_0_US-LABOR.xml&archived=False

Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:44 PM ET


By Peter Szekely

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - AFL-CIO leaders on Monday approved an ambitious and expensive political strategy aimed at mobilizing their members to put Democrats back in control of Congress and several state legislatures.

While a few Republicans may get labor backing, the $40 million plan -- the biggest ever for the labor federation in a non-presidential election year -- would target 21 states and 40 congressional districts where union officials believe Democratic candidates can win in the November election.

"We're hopeful that this campaign is going to be very successful in electing a majority to Congress as well as state legislatures and governors' races who can be held accountable on (worker-related) issues," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney told a news conference.

Sweeney insisted that the 54-union federation's political program was officially nonpartisan, but he acknowledged that support will go overwhelmingly to Democrats...