AFL-CIO To Hold Off On Endorsement In Presidential Primary

CHICAGO (AP) _ The AFL-CIO, the nation's largest federation of labor unions, has postponed making an unanimous endorsement in the Democratic presidential primary, freeing its 55 unions to choose for

Wednesday, August 8th 2007, 1:30 pm

By: News On 6

CHICAGO (AP) _ The AFL-CIO, the nation's largest federation of labor unions, has postponed making an unanimous endorsement in the Democratic presidential primary, freeing its 55 unions to choose for themselves from the eight contenders.

``There is not a consensus candidate,'' Karen Ackerman, political director of the AFL-CIO, said Wednesday, one day after the candidates tried to impress union leaders at a presidential forum.

The Democratic hopefuls now will increase their lobbying efforts on the AFL-CIO's unions _ representing some 10 million workers _ in hopes of picking up key endorsements. Several unions already have made plans to endorse one of the eight after Labor Day.

``It is clear that a number of the Democratic candidates have the experience and the credentials to lead our nation,'' a statement from the federation's executive council said. ``And it is equally clear that our members support a number of the candidates _ union members have told us all the candidates are impressive and they are eager to support many of them. For this reason, the AFL-CIO has decided not to proceed with a decision process that would lead to support for a single candidate at this time.''

Many expected the AFL-CIO to delay a decision following Tuesday night's presidential forum at Chicago's Soldier Field. Seven of the eight Democratic candidates participated, including leading candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards, and all seemed to have some support among the crowd of some 17,000 that included union members and their families.

The AFL-CIO didn't endorse a candidate in the 2004 primary, backing eventual Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry in February. Its rules say two-thirds of the AFL-CIO's individual unions must agree on a candidate before an endorsement, and that didn't happen.

The last two AFL-CIO primary endorsements went to former Vice President Al Gore in 2000 and Walter Mondale in 1984.

``At a later date, the executive council will decide if the AFL-CIO should endorse a candidate for president,'' the statement said.

Although union membership has declined over the years, the AFL-CIO remains a political force. Labor endorsements are prized for both the money and the foot soldiers that unions can provide.

The AFL-CIO said in 2006 that it knocked on 8.25 million doors for union candidates, made 30 million telephone calls, distributed 14 million fliers and sent out 20 million pieces of mail.

In the 2004 elections, organized labor also gave $53.6 million to Democratic candidates and party committees, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That number increased to $66 million for the 2006 elections and is expected to increase again for 2008.