Some Unions Put Endorsement Plans on Hold

[Freddie Stubbs]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Organized labor has yet to organize when it comes to choosing a Democrat to challenge President Bush. Late entrant Wesley Clark is shaking up the process even further, with some key unions delaying endorsement plans to see if he energizes voters.

Many unions had expected to endorse a 2004 choice this month or next, but they became wary about getting tied to a loser in a volatile contest with a crowded field that has seen the early front-runner trip and a once-afterthought soar.

Enter Clark - and intrigue for several unions whose rank-and-file have failed to coalesce around one candidate. Will the retired four-star general be the savior leading Democrats back to the White House? Or will he flame out? Some unions are taking time to find out.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, with 1.5 million members, has pushed back endorsement plans to early December based on Clark's potential.

more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-elect/2003/sep/28/092807046.html

[tsipple]

1. Bad News for Gephardt :-(

Gephardt was hoping for an AFL-CIO endorsement, but AFSCME and SEIU won't endorse him, and that pretty much kills it.

This is new. AFSCME said September, most recently October, and now December.

Dean and Kerry were just helped by this move.