Posted on 08/30/2007 12:41:35 PM PDT by The Pack Knight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One of the biggest U.S. trade unions made an unusual dual endorsement in the 2008 White House race on Thursday, backing Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Mike Huckabee for their parties' presidential nominations.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which has about 720,000 active and retired members, backed a candidate from each party for the first time after a recent survey found about one-third of union members voted Republican and two-thirds Democratic.
"The dual endorsement is intended to involve all IAM members in the upcoming election," said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger.
The endorsement was made at the union's national conference in Orlando, Florida. Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, was the only Republican to address the labor group.
Huckabee has lagged behind the top Republican 2008 contenders in national polls and fund raising but received a boost earlier this month with a surprise second-place finish in the Iowa straw poll.
"Mike Huckabee was the only Republican candidate with the guts to meet with our members and the only one willing to figure out where and how we might work together," Buffenbarger said in a statement.
The union endorsement was the second of the week for Clinton, a New York senator who leads the Democratic field in national polls 14 months ahead of the November 2008 election. She won the backing of the smaller United Transportation Union on Tuesday.
"Hillary Clinton earned the IAM's endorsement by focusing on jobs, health care, education and trade -- the bread and butter issues of the American middle class," Buffenbarger said.
Several more unions are expected to make endorsements in the next few weeks after the national AFL-CIO freed its 55 member labor unions to make their own choices. Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut won the endorsement of the International Association of Fire Fighters on Wednesday.
Union officials said they would work to educate members about their chosen candidates and publicize their candidacies in union publications and Web sites.
An endorsement from a labor union might not be the best thing for a GOP contender to receive.
Hope, Alaska?
It’s AR!
“An endorsement from a labor union might not be the best thing for a GOP contender to receive.”
Maybe not, but this almost Republican has enough in common with Clinton not to be left out.
“Buffenbarger”
What an unfortunate name.
MArk it down — labor unions are backing some republicans over the issue of illegal immigration. This will never be mentioned by the MSM, but Democrats can no longer count on their support.
Most of the large unions (UNITE, Service Workers, Teamsters) support the legalization of illegal aliens, to say nothing of the AFL-CIO itself.
Oops!
I grew up there. It’s just a pet peeve.
The last straw has to be Cheryl Crow saying we can only have one square of toilet paper. That's just too far!
They “endorse” the guy with no chance to win to appear “balanced.”
B.S.
Where is Hope, Alaska?
They endorsed a guy who could come out the winner as a “Dark Horse” candidate but, who will probably end up being someone’s VEEP.
I am a active IAM Machinists Union member and I assure each and everyone of you I do not support Hillary nor will I vote for her. Never have, never will!
I was on 4 day work weeks when slick was in office and I’d suspect the same under Hillary care. She failed to produce the promised jobs in New York. Don’t expect more if she runs the show.
As for the IAM, I get mailing and they constantly bash and blame all on the current administration. This is what I pay dues for?
The entire town was part of a Ted Stevens earmark. Tax money just isn’t enough anymore.
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