by Mike Hall, Feb 22, 2007

Eight of the nine Democratic presidential candidates spoke on the need for universal health care, the freedom of workers to form unions, protecting the middle class and ending the war in Iraq before an audience of more than 800 AFSCME members yesterday.

The Carson City, Nev., forum gave the candidates, who appeared separately, a chance to make a brief opening statement and answer three questions submitted from the audience and asked by forum moderator and ABC News commentator George Stephanopoulos.

Taking the stage yesterday: Sens. Joseph Biden (Del.), Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), Christopher Dodd (Conn.); former Sens. John Edwards (N.C.) and Mike Gravel (Alaska); Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio); Gov. Bill Richardson (N.M.); and former Gov. Tom Vilsack (Iowa). The other announced candidate, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), was in Iowa.

Says AFSCME Local 830 member Joaquin Carrera:

I think it’s great that AFSCME helps members get more involved and lets us hear from the candidates.

The forum was the first step in AFSCME’s path to endorsing a presidential candidate. The AFL-CIO Executive Council will address the federation’s endorsement process at its upcoming March meeting.

Because of the limited questioning, candidates did not necessarily address the same issues.

Progressive radio host Taylor Marsh blogged the event on her website as did Jonathan Singer at MYDD. Check out both for a deeper look at the candidates and their answers than most mainstream media have provided.

C-SPAN and ABC News Now broadcast the forum and will rebroadcast the event. Check both for additional airtimes. Also click here for photos of the forum. 

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