AFL-CIO Hits Raese With Mail Piece in WVA Senate race

[WI_DEM]

The AFL-CIO is targeting businessman John Raese (R) for the first time in the West Virginia Senate race, a sign they view the race in play and hope to leverage their clout in a union-rich state.

The mail piece, which will be delivered to union members in West Virginia, hits Raese for statements on safety regulations on coal mines in light of the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in April.

"After the deadliest mining disaster in 40 years, one Senate candidate wants to 'unshackle' management from safety regulations, and one is fighting to make them stronger," the mail piece reads.

The mail piece is part of 3.5M that the AFL-CIO is sending out on Monday. Direct mail has been the focus of the AFL-CIO's political efforts so far this year. Including this batch, the union has mailed 8M pieces, all of which are negative or contrast ads.

This is the first time the AFL-CIO has mailed into West Virginia, where union membership is high. The West Virginia race seemed safe for Democrats earlier this cycle when Gov. Joe Manchin (D), who enjoys high approval ratings, got into the race.

But Pres. Obama's sinking approval ratings in the state appear to be taking their toll on Manchin, however. Raese has sought to nationalize the race, casting Manchin as a "rubberstamp" for Obama. In a sign of just how unpopular Obama's health care reform is, Manchin called for repealing parts of the law.

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/

[BrklynLiberal]

1. The unions CAN pull this out for the Dems.....and there better be some grateful pols in DC.

I am speaking of not being so cozy with big business....