Hoffa: Gephardt must take Iowa

[pruner]

Labor leader also predicts AFL-LIO backing

By THOMAS BEAUMONT
Register Staff Writer
10/12/2003

One of the nation's most powerful labor leaders said in Des Moines on Saturday that Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt must win Iowa's lead-off caucuses to capture the 2004 nomination.

James P. Hoffa, president of the Teamsters union, also said he expects Gephardt to garner the AFL-CIO's coveted endorsement, despite the labor federation's decision to delay an endorsement until December.

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Hoffa's comments raise the stakes for Gephardt, who has predicted he will win the caucuses but has tried to tamp down expectations he will win the AFL-CIO's backing.

"Iowa, he has to win and that is very, extremely important," said Hoffa, whose politically powerful 1.4 million members have endorsed Gephardt. Iowa Teamsters number roughly 27,000, about a third of which are Democrats.

Gephardt won the 1988 caucuses before dropping out of the race for the nomination. Recent polls have shown Gephardt running a close second in Iowa to former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/22479843.html

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Geppy's chances?

Slim to none. He won't get any states because he's a coward, a tutu Dem, and won't get the backing of any more unions. the SEIC endorsement is going to go to Dean, and it's bigger than a Teamster's endorsement, and why would Hoffa be credible when he ordered his union to vote for Chimpy "Whistle-Ass" McCokespoon in 2000, hmmm?

Hawkeye-X