Statewide labor leaders back Specter over Democrat in Senate race

[Freddie Stubbs]

By LARA JAKES JORDAN
The Associated Press


NEW YORK - Pennsylvania labor leaders endorsed U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's bid for a fifth term Tuesday, delivering a big blow to his challenger's efforts to paint him as a puppet of the GOP's conservative wing.

Specter was the only Republican of more than a dozen Pennsylvania candidates to win the statewide AFL-CIO executive council's nod. Though not fatal to Democratic Rep. Joe Hoeffel, the endorsement raises questions about his ability to galvanize widespread support.

The 58-member state council, which represents 900,000 union workers in Pennsylvania, needed at least a two-thirds majority vote Tuesday to endorse Specter. Pennsylvania AFL-CIO president Bill George said Specter won the nod because of his longtime work to secure transportation funding that creates jobs, improve public education and, more recently, retain overtime pay for workers.

But the decision was as much strategic for the council, which considered Hoeffel's chances of winning before making the call.

more: http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-08312004-358255.html

[Krupskaya]

1. I don't know...

...much about this race, but generally speaking, I am SICK and TIRED of labor hedging its bets and waiting to see who will win a race before we endorse. We have the numbers to be powerful -- we shouldn't have to mince around and play coy until a winner starts to pull ahead. :mad

[Gman]

2. There's no bet hedging going on here

Spector had to garner 600,000 of the 900,000 votes from the various unions that make up the AFLCIO in PA which is no small task. Labor in PA apparently appreciates what Spector has done for them and is showing it. I think this is great for the union members that complain that labor never endorses anybody other than a republican.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. "Labor never endorses anybody other than a republican?"

This is a rare endorsement for a state-wide AFL-CIO to endorse a Republican for the US Senate.

[Rose Siding]

4. Yeah, the repub will be great on protecting OT

:eyes: Idiots

[w4rma]

5. So what are Hoeffel's policies towards labor?

Why would these unions be backing his opponent?

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Becuase Specter sometimes votes with the unions

and because he is probably going to be reelected.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Wind Dancer]

7. Contracts and money!