Blow for Gephardt

[Freddie Stubbs]

AFL-CIO Labor Group Opts Against Early Backing of Gephardt's Campaign

W A S H I N G T O N, Sept. 30— In what is sure to be viewed as a major blow to Rep. Dick Gephardt's presidential campaign, the AFL-CIO has opted against calling a meeting later this month to vote on an early endorsement for the Missouri congressman's presidential campaign.

"After extensive consultation with our affiliated unions, I have decided not to call for a general board meeting at this time to consider an endorsement in the Democratic presidential primary race," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney in a statement. "While a number of unions have endorsed, or indicated that they will endorse, Rep. Dick Gephardt...other unions find that their members are still considering this issue and are not yet ready to have their union decide such an important question."

While many observers, including some leading Republicans, have thought Gephardt would end up as the Democratic nominee, the failure to get the umbrella endorsement from the union is likely to set Gephardt back significantly.

The AFL-CIO's executive committee gathered today to gauge members' temperatures on whether or not to come out in favor of Gephardt, and sources told ABCNEWS the meeting ended with several unions saying they just weren't ready to endorse in this splintered Democratic field. One source close to the meeting said it is now unlikely a 2003 AFL-CIO endorsement will happen. No other candidate appears close to getting the full AFL-CIO's backing other than Gephardt, and now that he hasn't mustered the needed two-thirds majority, it is unlikely the federation of unions will back anyone until after a nominee emerges.

more: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/US/GephardtAFLCIO_030930.html

[Brucey]

1. Gep is still strong in the heartland,

but I don't think he's gonna make it... bridesmaid again. It looks like Dean, Clark, or Kerry right now.

[liberalnurse]

2. They have backed him before....

and lost out on the endorsement objectives. It is only reasonable they want to be cautious and apply their efforts to the mission of the democratic party. We have a big field of candidates and even though we have some leaders, no one has demonstrated a major lead just yet. Maybe by November.