Do Unions Really Have Any Political Muscle Anymore?

[Township75]

In light of Gephardt's piss poor performance in Iowa, I began to wonder how much pull unions have anymore in politics. DG had all the union backing in Iowa, which from my understanding made up a significant portion of registered Dems in Iowa, yet apparently he will be a distant 4rth when the results are in.

I saw something similar in the Dem primary for PA governor in 2k2. The unions backed Casey, and really united against Rendell who had a bad reputation with the unions due to his time as mayor of Philly. In the end, Rendell won the primary without the help of unions, and eventually the PA governership with the help of some of the unions.

Certainly, declining union membership has contributed to the current state of political pull unions have. My question is, do they have much pull left, am I way off base with my observations?

[madrchsod]

1. no

there`s hardly any union members left

[MrSoundAndVision]

2. No

and union leadership is to blame. They successfully dismanted the beginning of socialism in this country by forming the inactive, inept, bureaucratic unions of today.