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Teamsters back Obama

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor February 20, 2008 04:53 PM

Barack Obama won the blessing today of the 1.4-million-member Teamsters union, who could prove valuable allies in upcoming showdowns with Hillary Clinton.

The endorsement immediately activates the union's political activities, including its thousands of members in Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania -- states that Clinton badly needs to win.

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa met with Obama today in Texas. "Senator Obama understands the challenges working people face every day," Hoffa said afterwards in a statement issued by the Obama campaign. "He is the candidate in the best position to lead our movement to restore the American dream for working people in this country."

"Senator Obama will fight for better wages, real healthcare reform, stronger retirement security, fair trade and an end to the outsourcing of good jobs," Hoffa continued. "He understands the importance of giving workers a voice at work and will fight for strong unions to help rebuild America’s middle class."

In soundly beating Clinton in the Wisconsin primary on Tuesday, Obama broke into Clinton's union support. Last week, he received the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union, whose members helped his surge in Wisconsin.

3 comments so far...

  1. http://www.hillarythemovie.com/trailer.html


    Billary

    Posted by terry February 20, 08 06:29 PM
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  1. A group of Democratic politicos have been set up by lobbysts as a new independent 527 organization called the American Leadership Project (ALP) with the express purpose of helping Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, beat Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, in Ohio, and possibly Texas and Pennsylvania as well.Hillary owes lobbysts a great deal of favours to repay;Obama scares them!!!

    Posted by Clintontfatigue February 20, 08 07:15 PM
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  1. This endorsement is so disheartening. Why would our teamsters support some young guy who hasn't yet earned his stripes and furthermore, has ZERO national security experience?! I watched teamster leader Hoffa's interview on CNN today. Wolfblitzer pointed out that Obama has zero national security experience. Hoffa stated, that's okay--" Obama will surround himself with the best"...my interpretation was: Obama will be everyone's puppet ,once he's in office, as he will depend on others experience to steer his administration. He won't have a choice. At least Hillary has served on the national security committee. Also- Obama is getting set up to fail. He's built up the "hope hype" so much, that if he doesn't deliver, his career will be over, and our country will be in the toilet worse off than it was with Bush.

    Posted by Why Hoffa? Why Obama? February 20, 08 09:37 PM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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