Unions still hold appeal for Democrats

[Omaha Steve]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1131AP_Democrats_Unions.html

Unions still hold appeal for Democrats

By JESSE J. HOLLAND
AP LABOR WRITER

WASHINGTON -- They can be found rallying union workers, walking picket lines or helping sign up new members. Democrats running for president are after something else this time of year: the endorsements of the oh-so-important labor unions.

When organized labor calls, the Democratic candidates are there.


Democratic Presidential hopeful, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson makes a point while addressing a forum sponsored by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFSCME, Tuesday, June 19, 2007, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington. AFSCME is the largest union for workers in the public service with 1.4 million members nationwide. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

"You take politics seriously," Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton told the green-shirted American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union at a candidates forum Tuesday morning. "You understand that we have to organize in order to change the direction of this country."

Clinton isn't alone in courting labor to get a push in the early primary states.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, begins union speeches with "Solidarity Forever!" Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., relocated an important Chicago fundraiser because it had been booked in a nonunion locale. Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., wrote letters urging R.J. Reynolds Co. employees in his state to unionize.

"We think that it's really important for candidates not only to talk the right talk but actually walk the right talk," said Anna Burger, secretary-treasurer of the Service Employees International Union, which has nearly 2 million members nationwide and a large membership in the early voting states of Iowa and Nevada.

FULL story at link.

[aquart]

1. Think they'll rally for Bloomberg?

[ulysses]

2. labor needs to set the bar high. n/t