John Edwards Courts Union Members In Oregon

Tuesday, October 9th 2007, 8:27 pm

By: News On 6

SEASIDE, Ore. (AP) _ One day after failing to win endorsement from a major labor union, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards sought the support of West Coast union workers on Tuesday.

``I grew up in a family where my mother and father had health care only because of the union,'' Edwards said of the parents who worked in a Carolina mill. ``What people forget is that the organized labor movement built the middle class in America.''

Edwards said rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has indicated she would talk with drug companies, insurers and medical interests about expanding health care coverage, but he said there should be no compromises.

``In my America, every person is worthy of health coverage,'' he told about 400 union members at the annual Oregon AFL-CIO convention.

The labor activists interrupted Edwards with applause several times as he promised an aggressive agenda to provide health coverage for all, end the Iraq war and push for pro-union laws to help working families.

Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain said that while the state labor federation has no plans to make an endorsement in the presidential race, Edwards is highly popular among the state's union activists.

``We love him,'' Chamberlain said. ``He understands what it takes for working people to earn a living. It's genuine and sincere. He's a champion for rebuilding the middle class.''

Edwards said he expects to do well in the state.

``One of the reasons I'm here is that we have a great deal of support in Oregon,'' he said during a news conference after the speech.

Edwards also took comfort in the results of a weekend straw poll among state Democratic activists. He finished second, with 47 votes, behind Barack Obama, who had 49. Clinton finished third with 36 votes.

On Monday, the Service Employees International Union said it would not make an endorsement for the primary elections. The announcement was especially hurtful to Edwards, who had worked hard to win SEIU's seal of approval.