AFSCME backs Obama, breaks for national endorsement
The Illinois chapter of the country's major government-employees union broke with its national organization Saturday to endorse Barack Obama for president.
Nationally, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is backing Hillary Rodham Clinton. But the union's Illinois leaders decided to make their own endorsement.
''It is an unusual step, but we've had a long relationship with Senator Obama,'' said Henry Bayer, executive director AFSCME Council 31. ''We've had a better opportunity to observe him up close than people in other parts of the country.''
Some 400 union delegates meeting in Peoria voted unanimously to support Obama, an Illinois Democrat, AFSCME said.
AFSCME represents about 95,000 active and retired workers in Illinois.
The Illinois chapter is not allowed to offer organized support to Obamas campaign in neighboring Iowa, a key primary state. But Bayer said Illinois members are volunteering for Obama on their own.
He also hopes the Illinois endorsement sways some Iowa voters.
Bayer said Illinois AFSCME members have seen Obama stand up for working people over the past 20 years, first as a community organizer, then as a state legislator and now as a U.S. senator. Obama knows how to bridge partisan differences to get results, Bayer said.
In endorsing Clinton, national AFSCME leaders focused on her experience in Washington and her toughness as a candidate.
''This is the Democrat with the strength and experience to take on the Republicans in the fall. This is the Democrat who can win the White House in 2008,'' they said.