by Seth Michaels, Feb 20, 2008

The Boilermakers today endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who now has three AFL-CIO affiliated union endorsements in the Democratic presidential race.

Newton Jones, president of the 65,000-member Boilermakers, says Obama stands out in a strong field of candidates:

Clearly, we have been offered the finest field of superbly qualified candidates that we could have hoped for in this primary process. Sen. Edwards, Sen. Biden, Sen. Dodd, Gov. Richardson, Sen. Clinton and all of those who have spoken their hearts in this campaign have contributed greatly to America’s debate and our decision. But one stands out now.

In our view, Barack Obama is the best answer to America’s need for a leader who can unite our nation and who can truly inspire us again with a message of hope and promise for fundamental change in our government’s policies and the working relations of our two political parties.

Obama also has been endorsed by the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU), which initially gave an endorsement to former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.).

Two other unions that endorsed Edwards, the Mine Workers (UMWA) and United Steelworkers (USW), have not announced any plans to endorse another candidate in the 2008 presidential election.

Twelve unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO have endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.): 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).

The IAM and IUPAT endorsements of Clinton in the Democratic primaries were accompanied by endorsements of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Republican primaries.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have announced they will not make endorsements during the primary season. The Fire Fighters (IAFF), which endorsed Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), has not announced a new endorsement.

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.

The next contests in the 2008 presidential election will be held on March 4. Primaries are set for Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont and Texas.

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