Statewide labor leaders back Specter over Democrat in Senate race

[Freddie Stubbs]

By LARA JAKES JORDAN
The Associated Press


NEW YORK - Pennsylvania labor leaders endorsed U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's bid for a fifth term Tuesday, delivering a big blow to his challenger's efforts to paint him as a puppet of the GOP's conservative wing.

Specter was the only Republican of more than a dozen Pennsylvania candidates to win the statewide AFL-CIO executive council's nod. Though not fatal to Democratic Rep. Joe Hoeffel, the endorsement raises questions about his ability to galvanize widespread support.

The 58-member state council, which represents 900,000 union workers in Pennsylvania, needed at least a two-thirds majority vote Tuesday to endorse Specter. Pennsylvania AFL-CIO president Bill George said Specter won the nod because of his longtime work to secure transportation funding that creates jobs, improve public education and, more recently, retain overtime pay for workers.

But the decision was as much strategic for the council, which considered Hoeffel's chances of winning before making the call.

more: http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-08312004-358255.html

[wurzel]

1. And we wonder that workers are getting screwed!

[Lefty48197]

2. Specter voted for Bill Frist to be majority leader. Trent Lott before that

Is there any question that Spector is a puppet of these VERY right wing Republicans?

[DebJ]

5. And Bush recently gave him strong support..enough for me!

[Strive to be Dust]

3. 900,000 screwed

:puke:

Idiots. They can kiss their precious overtime goodbye the day after the election if the membership is stupid enough to follow this endorsement.

[newyawker99]

4. Hi Strive to be Dust!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[baltodemvet]

6. That really sucks

:hurts: