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Clinton, McCain Win in Close New Hampshire Primaries |
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The race for the presidency remains wide open today after last night’s New Hampshire primary. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) won the Democratic primaries, while Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) came out on top in the Republican race.
Participation in the primary hit a record high this year. More than 500,000 ballots were cast, 276,000 in the Democratic side and 229,000 on the Republican side. As in last week’s Iowa caucuses, the record-breaking turnout reflects voters’ concern with the direction of the country and their enthusiasm to elect a new president to bring about change.
With strong backing by union members, Clinton won a tight race over Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), the winner in Iowa. Clinton earned more than 110,000 votes, or 39 percent, while Obama was close behind with 36 percent and 103,000 votes. Former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) came in third in the Democratic primary with 17 percent and nearly 48,000 votes.
On the Republican side, McCain defeated former Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.) 37 percent to 32 percent. McCain brought in 87,000 votes to Romney’s 74,000. (Onetime front-runner Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, finished with a disappointing 9 percent, for a fourth-place tie with Rep. Ronald Paul [Texas].)
According to exit polls, union households made up 20 percent of the Democratic vote. Many of New Hampshire’s unions were active in the race.
Exit polls showed that Clinton won by a 40-31 margin over Obama among members of union households, making her union support crucial to her victory. (Edwards won 21 percent of union household votes.) She was endorsed by 12 AFL-CIO affiliated unions: AFSCME, AFT, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), the Bricklayers (BAC), the Letter Carriers (NALC), the Machinists (IAM), the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), the Sheet Metal Workers (SMWIA), TCU/IAM, the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and the United Transportation Union (UTU).
Edwards thanked the union movement in his concession speech and announced that he would continue to fight for the nomination. He was endorsed by the United Steelworkers (USW), the Mine Workers (UMWA) and the Transport Workers (TWU).
Obama also took time during his concession speech to mention “workers who organized” as a vital part of the progressive tradition.
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.), who came in third in the Republican primary, also was endorsed by the Machinists. (Last week the union denounced Huckabee’s move to cross the picket line of striking television writers to appear on the Jan. 2 “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”)
The AFL-CIO did not make an endorsement in the presidential primaries and will not carry out a united program during the primary season, as all major Democratic candidates are strong supporters of working family issues. The three top finishers in New Hampshire have high lifetime AFL-CIO congressional voting record scores: Clinton has 93 percent, Edwards 97 percent and Obama 96 percent. This year, the AFL-CIO will carry out the Working Families Vote 2008 campaign to help elect a worker-friendly Congress and president.
The candidates won’t have much time for a break. Later this month they’ll compete in Michigan (Jan. 15), Nevada (Jan. 19), South Carolina (Jan. 19 for Republicans, Jan. 26 for Democrats) and Florida (Jan. 29).
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I’d be interested to hear why Senator Clinton is so popular among union members. What has she done for us lately that other Democrats have not done? I don’t dislike Clinton, and I admire her public service and the path she is widening for women in politics. However, I also see a lot of the status quo, business as usual, good old “gal” politician in her. I just have to wonder if anything, other than the obvious, would change if she goes to the White House.
I really would like to know why union members support her. I’ve not yet made up my mind but am leaning towards John Edwards, with Obama a close second. Maybe someone might want to explain how Senator Clinton is best for the interests of union members.
Dear TennMom,I also would like to know why Hillary is so popular,she supports amnesty for illegals,free trade,has already failed on health care.I would also like to know just what her experience is that is so highly lauded about,she is a second term US senator nothing more.She was is married to an ex-president,and that to me is no qualification at all.I will vote for no one that supports legalization of up to 20 million new citizens,that are downgrading our way of life and have broken many laws to be here.Oh by the way I am a 40 year union member and many of us do not agree with the endorsments being made in our name.
I’m just disappointed that Richardson is no longer in the race. I had great hopes for him. I truly believe it is the lack of media attention to the policies of the other candidates, with the exception of the ‘big three’; it seems as though we have only had three candidates all along. It’s politics as usual, and those with the largest pockets will be heard.