AFL-CIO Launches $53.4M, 24-State Effort For Obama

[Omaha Steve]

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2008/06/aflcio_launches.html

http://www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/obama.cfm

The AFL-CIO will launch a $53.4M program today in support of Barack Obama, focusing on 24 priority states and more than 13M voters. The effort, which follows the organization's endorsement announcement this afternoon, will include direct mail, phone banking, door knocking, e-mail and worksite visits.

“In so many ways -- on jobs, health care, gas prices and the war in Iraq -- our country is headed in the wrong direction,” AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said. “Barack Obama has proven from his days as an organizer, to his time in the Senate and his historic run for the presidency, that he’s leading the fight to turn around America. He’s a champion for working families who knows what it’s going to take to create an economy that works for everyone, not just Big Oil, Big Pharma, the insurance companies, the giant mortgage lenders, speculators and the very wealthy. We’re proud to stand with Sen. Obama to help our nation chart a course that will improve life for generations of working people and our children.”

Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania are the group's key targets, according to AFL-CIO spokesman Steve Smith. In those states, union voters make up between 25-35 percent of the overall vote. Obama struggled in the Rust Belt states during the primary, losing OH and PA to Hillary Clinton. The Illinois senator wasn't on the ballot in MI.

The AFL-CIO will contrast Obama's record on issues of importance to working class voters -- health care, jobs, fair trade, freedom to join unions, retirement security -- with that of John McCain. Click on the graphic above to link to the group's new Web site -- Working Families Vote 2008, Meet Barack Obama -- which provides a briefing book on Obama's positions.

(JENNIFER SKALKA)