Dean Courts Union President

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Goal Is to Deny Gephardt Key Endorsement From AFL-CIO

By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 9, 2003; Page A02


Howard Dean is campaigning hard to deny rival Richard A. Gephardt the most coveted prize in the early stage of the nominating process: the official endorsement of the AFL-CIO.

Dean yesterday intensified his personal lobbying campaign to win the backing of Andrew Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, and the SEIU's 1.6 million members. Dean has called Stern numerous times to make the case that with the SEIU's backing, he could wrap up the nomination much more quickly and improve his campaign's standing with union members. The SEIU is the largest of the 66 unions represented by the AFL-CIO.

Stern showed up at a recent Dean rally, but he said he hasn't picked a candidate yet.

Dean, one of eight Democratic presidential candidates to audition before the SEIU yesterday at its political conference here, has repudiated his prior support for trade pacts such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, and suggested all future trade deals should require other countries to adhere to U.S. labor and environmental standards. Trade experts say such standards would greatly curtail U.S. trade because most nations do not and cannot adhere to environmental and labor laws as strict as those of this country. Dean's tough position has delighted union members, who generally oppose free trade because they believe it leads to job loss, but it prompted Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.) to warn at last week's debate that the former Vermont governor's ideas would create the "Dean depression."

more.........................

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45399-2003Sep8.html

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