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Union that endorsed Dean is considering withdrawing support

RON FOURNIER and DAVID ESPO, AP Political Writers
Saturday, February 7, 2004

(02-07) 14:25 PST (AP) --

Howard Dean, his campaign in peril, struggled Saturday to prevent the defection of a powerful union that gave him an early boost in the presidential race, Democratic officials said.

These officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Gerald McEntee, who heads the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, is considering withdrawing support from the former Vermont governor.

Dean, the one-time front-runner who has yet to win a primary, has decided to make a last stand in the Feb. 17 Wisconsin primary. But the loss of ASFCME would be devastating, giving his candidacy the appearance of further unraveling even as he struggled to save it.

The officials said McEntee is worried about the impact of Dean's ailing campaign on the union. McEntee voiced his concerns in a meeting during the day with Roy Neel, Dean's campaign manager, these sources added.

AFSCME spokeswoman Roberta Heine had no comment on the union's plans, but said of the meeting: "They discussed the future of the campaign and they reaffirmed their commitment to beating George Bush."

Andy Stern, who heads the Service Employees International Union, also attended the meeting. He has been campaigning with Dean in Wisconsin in recent days and his continued support did not appear to be in doubt.

In a telephone interview, Neel said that Dean would have more resources at his disposal in Wisconsin than any of his rivals, front-runner John Kerry included.

"We're going to be up in the air with television advertising within 48 hours, Tuesday at the latest," he said.

"We've got an enormous ground operation there. We have collapsed all of our field staff from earlier states" into Wisconsin

In addition, he said Wisconsin is a "good progressive state" that should be receptive to Dean's anti-establishment message.

After faltering in Iowa and New Hampshire, Dean made little effort to compete in Saturday's caucuses in Michigan or Washington. Nor does he plan to contest primaries next Tuesday in Virginia and Tennessee.

In an early-morning e-mail on Thursday, he told his Internet-savvy supporters he would make Wisconsin his last stand and appealed for a fresh infusion of cash to buy advertising needed to contest Kerry there.