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Fire Fighters Get on the Bus for Dodd |
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The Fire Fighters (IAFF) were among the first unions to endorse in the 2008 presidential race, backing Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.). Now, they’re going on the road in a 19-city bus tour to support him in the Iowa caucuses, the Democratic nomination and the presidency.
Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger helped kick off the tour yesterday in Council Bluffs and appeared today alongside Dodd in Ames. In a statement yesterday, Schaitberger said the tour would get the Fire Fighters engaged with the Dodd campaign and help propel him in the Jan. 3 caucuses.
At each stop, I will join presidents of Iowa IAFF locals and fire fighters to discuss Senator Dodd’s record of support for working families and their communities, particularly in providing resources for emergency response. I will also be urging fire fighters to participate in the January 3 caucus so that they have an impact in the elections as they did in 2004 when fire fighters mobilized to ensure Senator John Kerry’s surprise caucus victory.
The Fire Fighters are not the only union mobilizing behind a candidate. AFSCME has endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), and AFSCME President Gerald McEntee is campaigning for her in Iowa. He will be a guest at a Labor Women for Hillary Clinton breakfast next Saturday.
In addition, members of Region 4 of the United Auto Workers (UAW) voted to recommend an endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) this month. The vote did not constitute an official endorsement for Region 4, which includes Iowa.
The Iowa Postal Workers Union, an affiliate of the Postal Workers (APWU), endorsed former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) for president.
In August, the AFL-CIO Executive Council said it would not yet make an endorsement for a 2008 candidate, freeing AFL-CIO unions to endorse candidates for the caucuses and primaries. The AFL-CIO will continue the Working Families Vote 2008 campaign to help elect a worker-friendly Congress and president.
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This is a fastinating story worthy of our attention. The Iowa IAFF was (almost) soely responsible for propelling John Kerry to the #1 spot inthe 2004 elections. The ‘08 elections are stacked similar to ‘04 in that IAFF is not supporting the top picks (Clinton, Obama, Edwrds) AND is going against other powerfull unions who do support the toprunners. Lets see if the IAFF can do it again!!