(whole thing posted)
VEEPSTAKES: The Biden Surrogacy posted by John Nichols on 08/16/2008 @ 12:56pm
The endorsement of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is a political plum, as the union works harder to put out political fires for its candidate harder than any other.
Firefighters are constant companions when a candidate is endorsed, showing up at events and providing cover from the some of the most well-regarded of all public employees. Bill Clinton, Al Gore and John Kerry relied heavily on IAFF members, especially in red states, where the union is well organized.
This year, the 290,000-member IAFF had no great taste for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination this year -- thee union endorsed Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd early on, while giving a warm nod to Delaware Senator Joe Biden.
On Thursday, however, the firefighters finally signed on with the Obama campaign, officially endorsing the presumptive nominee at its convention in Las Vegas. Obama addressed the firefighters via a video message.
But Biden was at the convention, addressing the crowd of 3,500 on Obama's behalf -- and sounding very much like a vice-presidential running mate might.
Biden is now somewhere on most short lists of prospective vice-presidential running mates for Obama. But there was little doubt that he ranked at or near the top of the IAFF list of people they would like to see on the Democratic ticket.
The firefighters cheered wildly as Biden told them that, "Barack Obama will be the best friend fire fighters have ever had in the White House. He comes from your ethic. He understands the middle class is shrinking and that you are the middle class. He understands that labor is the reason there is a middle class. Barack Obama respects you. You say ‘what the hell? Everybody respects us.' Wrong."
"Don't tell me (the Bush-Cheney) administration respects you. Don't tell me Barack Obama's opponent respects you. Don't take away my collective bargaining rights and tell me you respect me. Don't tell me you respect me," Biden shouted in a speech that brought the delegates to their feet again and again.
Making the link that a senior senator can after years of working with a union, Biden vouched for Obama.
"We've fought and succeeded (to keep you out of Social Security). We've done it together. In every instance, Barack Obama has voted with us," Biden said. "You guys have... stuck with me. I'm here to tell you that Barack Obama will stick with you."
Like many unions, IAFF comes to Obama late in the game, and with a little uncertainty -- rooted less in specific concerns about issues (Obama's labor record is generally good, especially on issues of concern to public employees) than in a lack of familiarity.
Biden did not say as much. But it was reasonably clear that, were he on the ticket, the comfort level would rise dramatically.
The would probably be true of an Obama-Clinton ticket, or a number of other variations.
But the fact that Biden was the surrogate drawing the cheers from the firefighters adds a little muscle to the argument that he is under serious consideration as the Obama camp readies its most important announcement.
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters/345691:)!!
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