Edwards gets union nod in 10 states

By Jenn Abelson, Globe Staff

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards today scooped up the backing of 10 state affiliates of the Service Employees International Union, representing about half of the union's 1.9 million members.

The chapters endorsing him include the 656,000-member affiliate in California, and the 2,000-member Iowa state chapter.

Iowa, with its first-in-the-nation caucuses, is the first state affiliate to endorse a presidential candidate since the 1.9 million member national organization last week decided not to endorse a candidate. The Iowa support is key for Edwards, who is relying heavily on the caucuses to boost his campaign.

Edwards also picked up support from the SEIU chapters in Washington, Michigan, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia and Oregon. They can pool resources to help the former North Carolina senator, who trails rivals Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the polls and fund-raising.

Meanwhile, Obama today secured the backing of his home state Illinois SEIU chapter and the state affiliate in Indiana, which combined have about 170,000 members.