-
Dodd Heats Up '08 Campaign With Firefighters' Endorsement
August 28, 2007 |
Advertisement
This post, written by Chris Bowers, originally appeared on Open Left
Chris Dodd's campaign is set this week to announce a quite major labor endorsement: the International Association of Firefighters, according to a source familiar with the plans.
The endorsement comes as something as a surprise. Labor insiders had expected the union, one of labor's big endorsements, to go with one of the front-runners.
But the Connecticut senator is an old ally, and authored what's probably the most important piece of legislation in a decade for the IAFF: The 2000 FIRE Act, which channels federal money to local fire departments.The only union endorsement Kerry won before Iowa in 2003 was the IAFF. They have an impressive political operation that could certainly help Dodd receive some long-awaited traction. However, the endorsement of the international does not necessarily mean the endorsement of the Iowa locals:
Because Iowa labor does not always follow the lead of its national representatives when it comes to supporting candidates, Iowa Independent interviewed Wayne Sawtelle, political director of the IAFF's Iowa organization.
Chris Bowers was a full-time editor at MyDD from May 2004 until June 2007. Some of his projects have included the creation of the Liberal Blog Advertising Network, the first scientifically random poll of progressive netroots activists, the Use It Or Lose It campaign, the nation's most accurate forecast of Democratic house pickups in 2006, and the 2006 Googlebomb the Elections campaign.
LIKED THIS ARTICLE? JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST
Stay up to date with the latest AlterNet headlines via email
Stay up to date with the latest AlterNet headlines via email
On JFK's 95th Birthday, Stephen King -- Like Many Writers Before -- Has a Theory About Kennedy's Assassination
