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2006-07-05 Home Front: Politix

To win the House or pick up a significant number of seats in both chambers of Congress, Democrats will have to battle traditional allies in the labor and environmental community to win targeted races. At least seven of the most vulnerable House GOP incumbents have been endorsed by unions, environmental activists or other Democratic-leaning advocacy groups. So have at least three of the most vulnerable Senate Republicans. Organized labor has also poured tens of thousands of dollars into the campaign accounts of highly vulnerable Republicans, in several instances surpassing the amount given to Democratic challengers.

Rep. George Miller (Calif.), ranking Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, has disclosed that at least one of his House colleagues has said that, if Democrats fail to capture the House, labor will be partly to blame. Miller, a lawmaker close to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), shared that anecdote with labor officials, according to a union lobbyist, perhaps sending a subtle message of displeasure that Democrats know labor is hedging its bets.

Rep. John Sweeney (R), the Democrats No. 1 target in New York, has won the endorsement of the local affiliate of the Laborers International Union of North America and of the Albany affiliate of the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, Sweeneys campaign says. Union political action committees had given Sweeneys campaign $105,000 by the end of March, more than he had received from any other special interest. He received $10,000 contributions from the Laborers Union, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the International Association of Fire Fighters, according to politicalmoneyline.com, a website that tracks fundraising.

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The most recently filed fundraising reports for Kirsten Gillibrand, Sweeneys Democratic opponent, show that she has received only $32,000 from labor through March 31. Were really trying to work with incumbents and trying to not drink the Kool-Aid with some of the challengers, said one labor lobbyist, who added that Democrats cant expect unions to place all their bets on Democratic candidates and risk being shut out of the legislative process if they lose.

Posted by Fred 2006-07-05 00:00|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 As Dr. Dean would say: "Is it sometime I said?"

Posted by Captain America 2006-07-05 00:54|| 2006-07-05 00:54|| Front Page Top

#2 if Democrats fail to capture the House, labor will be partly to blame.

...Yeah, couldn't possibly be anything else.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2006-07-05 07:23|| 2006-07-05 07:23|| Front Page Top

#3 If you can't beat 'em, join em.

Posted by 2b 2006-07-05 08:54|| 2006-07-05 08:54|| Front Page Top

#4 If you agree with them, join them. Blacks next.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-07-05 08:54|| 2006-07-05 08:54|| Front Page Top

#5 Right...so it's all labor's fault that the Dems keep picking crappy candidates who can't win an election.

Keep it up, kids, and the money well's gonna run dry. Not a second too soon, either.

Posted by Swamp Blondie 2006-07-05 11:06|| http://azjetsetchick.blogspot.com]">[http://azjetsetchick.blogspot.com] 2006-07-05 11:06|| Front Page Top

#6 And if I recall correctly, union is also back Lieberman in CT instead of the Kos Kiddie Millionaire Kommie who though guilt ridden by his money has no problem running a non-union shop.

Posted by Craique Uneger1578 2006-07-05 16:37|| 2006-07-05 16:37|| Front Page Top

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