Firefighters Will Host Political Barnburner

ABC News’ Teddy Davis Reports: On Wednesday, March 14, the International Association of Firefighters will become the first organization to hear back-to-back speeches from major presidential candidates from both parties. 

Former New York Mayor Giuliani, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., will be among 10 potential presidential hopefuls who will give 20 minute presentations to hundreds of firefighters from every congressional district in the country gathered in Washington, D.C. 

The forum will be the first step in the endorsement process of the I.A.F.F. 

The process is expected to include candidate speeches, focus groups, internal polling, and presentation of candidates’ records to union membership. The union’s goal is to make an endorsement in the fall. (The firefighters provided a major boost to Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) when he was seeking the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination).

A spokesman for the I.A.F.F. describes the group’s membership as 42 percent Republican, 40 percent Democratic, and the rest as self-identified independents.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., was invited to participate but said that he was not able to make it. Note that Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., who is still weighing a presidential bid, will be among the speakers.

The open press event begins with a speech by the union’s president at 8:30 am ET.

Check out the line-up:

John Edwards 
Rudy Giuliani
Barack Obama
Duncan Hunter
Hillary Clinton
Chuck Hagel
Chris Dodd
Bill Richardson
John McCain
Joe Biden