Labor coalition swings its support to Kerry

[Feanorcurufinwe]

The United Steelworkers of America, along with a coalition of industrial unions that had long backed Rep. Richard Gephardt for president, has endorsed the ascendant candidacy of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

Without their support, Kerry had seized command of the Democratic nomination race, winning 12 of the 14 contests decided so far. With it, the Massachusetts Democrat hopes to bolster his momentum in Wisconsin, the next confrontation along the Democrat's primary road.

USW President Leo Gerard will join other labor leaders next Tuesday in Milwaukee for a rally in support of Kerry's bid on the day of the Wisconsin primary. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean has described the state's balloting as crucial to the future of his campaign, but recent polls have Kerry with a comfortable lead in the Badger State.

The USW and other members of the formerly pro-Gephardt coalition known as the Alliance for Economic Justice agreed to join the front-runner's parade in a conference call on Wednesday. In a statement released by the union, Gerard said that the USW decision came after a poll of local leaders and activists went Kerry's way by a margin of "more than 10-1."
More: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04044/272651.stm