Results Compel Unions to Refocus (labor spent 200 millions on Dems)

[Omaha Steve]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703509004575592963249367510.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

By MELANIE TROTTMAN And KRIS MAHER

Unions spent more than $200 million to back Democrats on Tuesday, and their leaders took credit for helping to re-elect Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, but they now face a Republican surge that could bring their legislative agenda to a grinding halt.

Union leaders on Wednesday said they would focus their efforts on regulatory agencies that govern labor and union-organizing matters, and push for job-creating programs such as new infrastructure projects.

The AFL-CIO took credit for providing the margin of victory for Democrats in certain races, including Mr. Reid in Nevada and Gov. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. who won the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Robert C. Byrd for more than 50 yearsUnion members voted 69% for Mr. Reid, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said Wednesday.

"Of course, the election results were extremely disappointing for the members of union families who voted in this election," Mr. Trumka said.

The AFL-CIO said its get-out-the-vote efforts resulted in union members backing union-endorsed candidates at a national rate of 64% in the House and 62% in the Senate. Mr. Trumka said those percentages were lower than in previous midterm elections, but far exceeded the support Democrats had from voters from non-union households.

FULL story at link.