The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 3 of 3)

Dick Gephardt and his campaign were desperate for the AFL-CIO to make an early endorsement for president. Union boss John Sweeney was inclined to do Gephardt the favor. But after what some union officials said was a contentious meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Sweeney emerged to call Gephardt's people to tell them there would be no early endorsement. /p>

Gephardt has been getting organized labor endorsements, but has seen his campaign stall out a bit, particularly in Iowa, where he was expected to win in a walk, but has now fallen behind Howie Dean in the polls. Gephardt's people were hoping an early endorsement by the full AFL-CIO body would give them some added momentum, cash and volunteers leading into the final stretch drive of the primary runup.

Sweeney met with the leaders of the ten largest unions that operate under the AFL-CIO umbrella on Tuesday. The meeting was intended to gauge the labor leaders' interest in holding an endorsement vote on October 14th. The answer was a loud, no.

In order to gain the full AFL-CIO endorsement, a candidate has to receive at a minimum the support of the two-thirds of affiliated unions. Gephardt has been endorsed by 14 such organizations. Sen. John Kerry has been endorsed by one. No other Democrat has received the formal support of an AFL-CIO affiliated national union.

Gephardt is pushing so hard, because the three largest unions under the AFL-CIO umbrella -- the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) -- have thus far declined to move quickly, and appear to be leaning toward supporting candidates other than Gephardt.

Howie Dean is expected to receive the endorsement of the SEIU, this, after, wowing members during a Washington political event last month. Meanwhile, AFSCME, which was thought to be leaning toward an endorsement of Sen. John Kerry, after its leader, Gerald McEntee, began talking up the Massachusetts Democrat more than a year ago, appears to have cooled on him. Just this week, McEntee held his fourth meeting with Gen. Wesley Clark. Why? Because Bill Clinton suggested that the two meet regularly. In Democratic politics, it all begins and ends with the man from Hope.

topics:
Harry Reid, Bill Clinton, Hollywood, Iraq, Unions