AP: Teamsters to Endorse Gephardt for president

Associated Press | July 31, 2003

[Timesink]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Teamsters union plans to endorse Democrat Dick Gephardt for president, union sources say.

[goldstategop]

The Teamsters isn't like it used to be.

[comebacknewt]

If Dean becomes the RAT nominee, look for the Teamsters to endorse GWB.

[goldstategop]

Really? Why would G.W want it after they endorsed Little Poco Loco?

[RetiredArmy]

Hoffa said that the teamsters were not the bank teller card of the DNC. Guess he guessed wrong.

[aardvark1]

Stupid is as stupid does.

[ohioWfan]

Isn't this in the primary only, making the headline a bit misleading?

I mean, won't the Teamsters feel kinda stupid endorsing Gephardt for President if George W. Bush is running against Howard Dean? :o)

[Coop]

I don't really understand it. Everyone keeps writing off Dick Gephardt's chances because of his (surprisingly) weak fundraising, but he's just piling up the union endorsements. Those resources will certainly help him make up for a lack of revenue come real campaign time. And he's well positioned to win Iowa, making him an early frontrunner. He and Lieberman are also, in my book, the two Dems who can appear relatively strong on national defense.

[adam_az]

[Coop]

Your thoughts on my post #27?

[Timesink]

Isn't this in the primary only, making the headline a bit misleading?

Well, the point IMHO is that they want him to win the primary and thus be the candidate agaisnt Bush in November 2004. If Gephardt doesn't get the nomination, they'll just have to pick somebody else, or choose not to endorse anyone at all.

[Tokhtamish]

Gephardt is piling up the union endorsements. He has the Black Caucus and the Black mayors so he will sweep the South on Super Tuesday with Black votes.

Let Dean have the Hollywood, San Francisco, latte liberal types.

Lately, I have noticed fewer "Dean or Green" posts on DU. I think they are beginning to sober down. Hmmm, let me see how this is going down on DU.

Smart move by the Teamsters.

[deport]

I agree with you and do think Gephardt is well in the mix at this stage. In addition to Union Support which can put troops on the ground on primary election day he has the endorsement of many of his colleagues..... These all will be running and if they actively support him them that is another group of troops on the ground.

I think he's not to be counted out as of yet.... If he makes a good showing in the first few primaries then the money will begin to come his way.... He's not missing over 300 House votes sitting at home. He's been in the field all this year plowing and planting.

[Dog Gone]

Al Sharpton could be the fly in that ointment.

[Coop]

He has the Black Caucus and the Black mayors so he will sweep the South on Super Tuesday with Black votes.

Well, I don't really see that happening, unless he gains a ton of momentum into and out of the Iowa caucus.

[Coop]

He's not missing over 300 House votes sitting at home. He's been in the field all this year plowing and planting.

Good point about all the missed votes. He's been a busy boy behind the scenes.

[ohioWfan]

It is highly unlikely that Gephardt will get the nomination due to his (at least formerly) strong stand for the war in Iraq.

The Teamsters had better start deciding now what they're going to do about choosing another candidate to endorse for the national election......

[Coop]

It is highly unlikely that Gephardt will get the nomination due to his (at least formerly) strong stand for the war in Iraq.

I know that's the conventional wisdom right now, but I see that changing for two reasons:

1) I think WMDs and Saddam's demise are going to make the anti-war folks look rather foolish.
2) The Dems are eventually going to realize their lurch left just won't cut it. We're already seeing signs of sanity among the madness (e.g., the DLC meeting). And remember Reno in Florida? All the Dems loved her... until it become obvious Jeb would crush her. Then they flocked to McBride. I'm not saying it will happen with Gephardt, just that it could.

[ohioWfan]

You're right about at least one thing. The anti-war cries will be muffled when Saddam is dead, and are already muted because of David Kay's announcement (did you hear Jay Rockefeller today?)

And you may be right about a reversal in the leftward lurch of the party. But then again, that would require a modicum of wisdom on their part, and I haven't seen much of that coming from the RATS in recent months. They seem to be willing to run willy nilly off the cliff that President Bush has led them to repeatedly in the past two years. (A fact that has amused me more than once!)

We shall see.......

[arly]

makes you want too run out and buy a toyota.

[Recovering_Democrat]

TEAMSTER'S LAST ENDORSEMENT