Democrats Continue to Court Labor

Sept. 25, 2007 — -- Three top Democratic presidential candidates continued to court labor today, even as one of the country's most powerful unions has put off their own negotiations as to who they will endorse in 2008.

Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards, in that order, spoke to hundreds of workers at the Change to Win Convention in Chicago, the morning after the SEIU's executive board decided to revisit the issue of endorsement in October.

But today it was clear that the Democrats remain focused on winning the hearts and minds of laborers.

"Everybody talks about unions, when they're trying to get a union endorsement," said Obama, speaking to the fact that candidates promise union talk during the campaign season but fail to be vocal on the issue once in office.

Warning against said practice, he said, "As a consequence, you got a lot of people all across America who could use a union but they're never hearing about it, they're never encouraged to join, they're never given a sense that being part of a union, that's as American as apple pie, that's the reason we've got the minimum wage, that's the reason we got the 40-hour work week, that the reason we've got overtime."

"How many times have you had politicians come in front of you when it's election time? They come in front of you, they want your support, and then when the campaign begins the word union gets stuck in their throat, they can't say the word," said Edwards, echoing a similar concern of Obama.

Edwards vowed to walk on to the White House lawn and make it clear to the Americans the relationship between the middle class and the labor movement.

"If we want to grow and strengthen the middle class in the United States of America, we must grow and strengthen the union movement in America, and I will make that case to America every single day of my campaign for the presidency and when I am president of the United States."

Edwards has been making his "case" as a labor friendly president for months, particularly by courting the Service Employees International Union, which is 1.8 million members strong.

Today's news was a blow to Edwards, whose campaign could have benefited from a boost in momentum from the SEIU endorsement, as Edward trails his top opponents in polling and fundraising, something that will be reinforced by third quarter fundraising totals due out soon.

On this particular day, it was important for Edwards to remind the crowd, "I have walked in picket lines, I have been in hunger strikes, I have been in organizing campaigns with over 23 national unions, including every single union represented in this room today."Tomorrow, with unions across the country tuned in to the ongoing United Auto Workers strike, Edwards will join Local 774 on a picket line outside a GM plant in Buffalo, N.Y.Speaking of New York, Clinton wasn't able to make a big splash at today's convention. She was scheduled to appear in person following Edwards; however, her plane was grounded in Little Rock, forcing her to call in to the conference from the tarmac.

The organizers of the event praised technology for keeping Clinton in touch today, but technology was exactly what hindered her. Clinton was not able to receive the speech-stopping applause Obama and Edwards enjoyed. Though a photo of Clinton was displayed on the big screen during the call, there was a constant buzz of commotion in the auditorium, and some of the seats were empty during her session.

Nonetheless, Clinton had powerful words for Change to Win. "The American labor movement is the American middle class. People say when you're president, will labor have a seat at the table? I say of course they will. Labor built the table, built the chairs, gave people a chance to have a shot at the American dream."

Despite a full court press by the candidates, Change to Win did not endorse anyone today. Change to Win was founded in 2005 after controversially breaking way from the AFL-CIO, and represents 6 million workers and seven unions, including the SEIU.