[mware]

Your article supported my assertion.

The backing could help Mr. Bush win support from firefighters nationwide, even though the country's largest firefighters' union has endorsed Senator John Kerry.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

If your assertion had anything to do with NATIONAL firefighters, then I guess so.

Is the NYC's main firefighters' union 'the rank and file'?

I think not.

Per the article:

New York City's main firefighters' union will endorse Mr. Bush

And after that, they DID in fact endorse Bush. The rank and file ARE Republican. So is the NYC firefighters union.