Union's non-choice is loss for Edwards, gain for Obama

[Ethelk2044]

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- After an eight-hour board meeting in Chicago on Monday, the executive board of the Service Employees International Union decided not to endorse for now in the Democratic primary. The executive board will revisit an endorsement on Oct. 8, after the third-quarter fund-raising totals are in.
This is a big setback for White House hopeful former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), who has been working the SEIU leaders (first, second and third tier) for years. This is very good news for rival Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who now has bought time to persuade SEIU leaders that he is the most politically viable contender.

I'm told the leaders of the SEIU -- one of the most politically active unions in the nation -- want to make an endorsement. And there are elements within the leadership who want to stop Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), who is the frontrunner in most polls -- national and in the four early primary states.

I'm told the executive board never even took a vote. That's all bad news for the Edwards forces, who hoped to lock in the SEIU endorsement last week, after the top Dem contenders addressed their political conference in Washington. But SEIU chief Andy Stern and SEIU chief politico Anna Burger said the executive board needed to hear more from the top strategists for the campaigns. Team Obama sent strategist David Axelrod and campaign manager David Plouffe.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/572706,CST-NWS-sweet25.article

[flpoljunkie]

1. Interesting..."elements within the leadership who want to stop Hillary Rodham Clinton..."

[jsamuel]

2. SEIU has always said that they would not endorse until at least October

or November (like when they endorsed Dean in Nov. in 2003).

[rinsd]

3. It would likely have more effect then.

Besides the power of the SEIU is boots on the ground and a liekly large poll of supporters not necessarily influence of public support.

[illinoisprogressive]

4. the leadership wants to stop Hillary. I love their leadership and I'll help

[bpeale]

5. AFSCME union member here

and i don't care WHO AFSCME endorses, Edwards is my man in this election. it's not the unions vote, its MY vote.

[killbotfactory]

6. Obama's speech to the SEIU may have something to do with it

Read about it:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/9/17/164117/519

Watch it here:
http://webcast.seiu.org/

or here:
Part 1 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x56426
Part 2 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x56428
Part 3 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x56429
Part 4 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x56430
Part 5 (definitely watch this part) - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x56431

[Catchawave]

7. Lynn Sweet !

Obama's ace reporter and in the Sun Times :) Sigh.

How is this a loss for Edwards? How did SEIU's endorsement help Howard Dean in the '04 primaries? Ms. Sweet needs to do some research :banghead:

And, how is this not a "loss" for Hillary and Obama too?

I'm not fussed or worried, but I do want to DU a DU ActBlue for John Edwards and try and get a few donations for him to hit the *Big 100* DU supporters on:

http://www.actblue.com/page/du-presidential

:hi: