The Service Employees International Union, which had backed Edwards' failed presidential big, endorses Obama. The Illinois senator says he has asked his former rival for an endorsement, too.By Maria L. La Ganga and Michael Muskal, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
11:12 AM PST, February 1, 2008
Sen. Barack Obama today picked up the support of a key California union that had backed one of his failed opponents for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The state council of the Service Employees International Union has decided to back Obama after its first choice, former Sen. John Edwards dropped out this week, spokeswoman Jeanine Meyer Rodriguez said in a telephone interview.
"Basically we think that there are really good candidates in this election, and a lot of good energy," she said of Obama and his principal rival New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was campaigning today in California.
"We believe that Obama best advances our vision for a new America, united in hope," Rodriguez said in explaining why the union decided to back the Illinois senator. Annelle Grajeda, president of the group, formally announced the decision this morning.
The 650,000-member state union represents employees including nurses, janitors and home care workers. It is especially strong in the Latino community, a key voting bloc in Tuesday's primary in California and some 20 other contests across the nation.
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