Cullinary Workers endorse Obama

[Bristol Insider]

From The Politico:

Presidential candidate Barack Obama has won the support of the 60,000-member Culinary Workers Union in Nevada, a coup for the Democrat that could boost his candidacy against Hillary Rodham Clinton in the state's nominating contest.

Leaders of the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226 announced the endorsement at a news conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday, the day after Obama narrowly lost the New Hampshire primary to Clinton, said a Democrat close to the union.

A union official said the endorsement was on behalf of the union and its parent, UNITE HERE, which claims 450,000 active members. It's Obama's first endorsement from a major national union.

"Our organization and our members will do everything in our power to see that he reaches the White House this fall, because we know he will bring working Americans with him, " UNITE HERE President Bruce Raynor said.

The move could affect the race in Nevada, where Clinton has long enjoyed solid support from the Democratic establishment and a hefty lead in the polls. Obama has sought support there outside the pool of experienced activists.

The union, representing hotel, restaurant and laundry workers in Nevada's casino industry, is the largest and best-organized labor group in the state. It has the potential to steer thousands of voters to the state's Jan. 19 caucus.

 

[poindexter]

What am I missing here, as far as the interest, or relevance?

 

[GB-Hack]

This gives Obama a huge boost in Nevada, and could play a big part in him winning the primary.

 

[Ace]

But the bus boys are for Hillary.

 

[poindexter]

I think it's funny how people still vote like sheep.

"Our organization and our members will do everything in our power to see that he reaches the White House this fall, because we know he will bring working Americans with him, " UNITE HERE President Bruce Raynor said.

Oy vey. Does anyone still believe drivel like this?

 

[Bristol Insider]

The unions still fall in step with the endorsements ... This is big for Obama, given the caucus in Nevada ...

 

[Football_Bat]

I predicted on the N.H. thread Hillary will punt Nevada.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

"Our organization and our members will do everything in our power to see that he reaches the White House this fall, because we know he will bring working Americans with him, " UNITE HERE President Bruce Raynor said.

They're going to need to beef up security over at 1600 Pennsy

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

How big a deal are union endorsements anymore?

 

[Chi City 81]

How big a deal are union endorsements anymore?

Huge, in the Democratic Party. In a general ... depends on the union and how hard they're willing to work for a candidate.

 

[zeke12]

From what I know about the Nevada caucus -- which isn't much -- a pretty big deal. **** gets decided by those that show up, and, I guess, this union gets its people to an otherwise sparsley attended caucus.

Of course, Mark Penn working for a union-busting law firm helped sway this one Obama's way. Nice hire, Hillary.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

How big a deal are union endorsements anymore?

Bigger than you'd like to think, I'm guessing.

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

How big a deal are union endorsements anymore?

Bigger than you'd like to think, I'm guessing.

Well, they certainly don't mean much on a national scale anymore. Much like newspaper endorsements.

 

[FishHack76]

On first read, I thought it was Cutlery Workers, and I thought, "Finally, Pickle_Juice has something to report on!"

 

[goalmouth]

Does this mean Obama is a better tipper than Hillary?

 

[terrier]

It's significant in that Obama never really positioned himself as the union candidate. Democrats who try to do that (Edwards, Gephardt, etc.) never go the distance.