Bonior to head up Gephardt campaign in state, nationally

AP ^ | 12-18-03 | Kathy Barks Hoffman

[Dan from Michigan]

Bonior to head up Gephardt campaign in state, nationally

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN
The Associated Press
12/18/2003, 5:14 p.m. ET

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. David Bonior of Mount Clemens said Thursday he will head up Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt's Michigan campaign and serve as co-chairman of the Missouri congressman's national campaign.

The two worked closely together in the U.S. House before Bonior chose to run for governor in 2002 rather than for another House term. Bonior was the House minority whip and Gephardt was the House minority leader during Bonior's last years in office.

Gephardt campaigned for Bonior in Michigan during his unsuccessful bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Now, Bonior is using his experience in Michigan politics to boost Gephardt's chances in the state's Feb. 7 Democratic presidential caucuses.

"It's picking up steam. People are starting to pay attention," Bonior said of Gephardt's Michigan campaign. "There's a lot of enthusiasm."

Bonior cited Gephardt's experience and ability to beat President Bush in the general election as reasons why he'd be the best pick among the nine Democrats running for president.

"It's my pleasure ... to speak on behalf of my friend of 28 years, Dick Gephardt," Bonior said during a conference call with Gephardt and reporters. "We've fought side by side for fair trade deals, to protect Medicare, to protect good jobs here in America."

The two men opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement and have long records of backing workers' rights.

Gephardt is hoping to appeal to Michigan's strong labor base in his bid for the nomination. He already has been endorsed by unions that have slightly more than 150,000 Michigan members.

The Democratic candidate leading in Michigan polls, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, has the support of unions that have about 100,000 members in the state. But Gephardt said he has the better track record on issues workers care about.

"People in Michigan are worried about jobs and health care," Gephardt said. "Perhaps no state in the country has lost more manufacturing jobs (under NAFTA). ... I think the people of Michigan are going to sense they want a president who wants different trade policies."

The state's largest union prize — the United Auto Workers — remains uncommitted, but Gephardt and Bonior said they hope to win the union's endorsement. The UAW has 250,000 members and 100,000 retirees in Michigan and a long history of involvement in state politics.

So far, the UAW's four Michigan regional directors and UAW Vice President Richard Shoemaker have not made an endorsement, although Gephardt has won the support of the state UAWs in Iowa and Missouri, and of the UAW regionals representing Indiana and Kentucky.

"We have good support among working men and women in this state. Most of the unions in our state have endorsed Dick Gephardt," Bonior said. "I'm confident that there will be a number of United Auto Worker officials who will support Dick Gephardt, and we're still hopeful we'll get the UAW endorsement."

[lelio]

"It's picking up steam. People are starting to pay attention," Bonior said of Gephardt's Michigan campaign. "There's a lot of enthusiasm."

The only enthusiasm displayed in this campaign is by Dick's ego. Why on earth does he continue to run?

Whatever happened to Joyce Aboussie (Gephardt's longtime aid) threat to union members to stay in line? That story seemed to go nowhere.

Come to think about it, that's probably the only enthusiam displayed in Dick's run -- that for a political infight.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Let's see now, they now have the loony left candidate (Dean), the union candidate (Gephardt), the clintonista candidate (Clark), the French candidate (Kerry), the trial lawyer candidate (Edwards), the sloppy seconds candidate (Lieberman), and then you've got the all the rest of the also rans. What a pitiful bunch.

[Servant of the 9]

Bonior is such a smoothie, he will have the whole state of Iowa eatring out of his hand.

Sarcasm

FOFL

So9

[Sub-Driver]

sounds like a Jim Jones episode.....

[lelio]

they now have the loony left candidate ...

All they need is the Wacky Neighbor candidate and we're witnessing the creation of NBC's latest sitcom.