AFL-CIO Holds Off On '08 Endorsement

Following its Presidential Forum attended by 17,500 union members, the AFL-CIO Executive Council Wednesday chose to hold off making an endorsement of a single candidate for President. The 47-member top leadership body left the door open for an endorsement at a later date, leaving each of the AFL-CIO's 55 unions free to make its own primary endorsement. "The issues affecting our nation's working families took front and center (stage) last night," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. “We will make absolutely sure that the spotlight remains on working people's concerns, like good jobs, affordable health care, and the freedom to join and form unions to improve their lives." Rather than endorsing at this time, the Executive Council pledged that unions "will focus on preparations for the greatest involvement ever by working voters in the crucial 2008 elections." In 2006, the AFL-CIO's massive union mobilization proved key to shifting the balance of power in Congress when it mobilized more than 13.6 million voters in 32 states. In recent national elections, one in four voters have been union household members. Click here to read the Washington Post story on Tuesday's Forum. To read the New York Times coverage of the Forum, click here.