Gephardt consolidating union support

Ok. I'm back. Thanks to Steve and Ron for filling in!

I just realized we had no Cattle Call this week. Sorry about that, but given my travel schedule I suppose it was unavoidable. It'll be back next week.

It's been a relatively quiet week in the Dem field. Dean raised over $500,000 in a weekend with average donations of less than $100, which has to scare the crap out of the other campaigns (including Bush's). I'm guessing he'll break the $10 million mark for Q3. I'll make an early prediction of $12 mil.

But perhaps the most significant election news of the week was Gephardt's imminent endorsement from the Teamsters.

This is significant for a couple of reasons --

1. It confirms Gep's standing as the "labor candidate"
   
2. It offers a morale boost to a candidacy that has been suffering from poor media and fundraising problems.
   
3. It may provide a fundraising boost.
   
4. It may provide Gep much-needed foot soldiers -- essential for caucus states such as Iowa and Michigan, and GOTV efforts in the other primary states.

This endorsement is also significant to the Democratic Party, as Bush was on a mission to earn the Teamster's endorsement in 2004.

Of the major unions, the Teamsters has always been my least favorite. Its endemic corruption has tainted the entire labor movement for years. It has consistently supported Republican candidates (such as Bush I, Reagan and Nixon). And it is perhaps the least environmentally sensitive of all unions (e.g. pushing hard for oil drilling in ANWAR).

But I'd rather have Teamster resources pulling for our guy than theirs. Gephardt will enjoy their help in the primary election, but I especially look forward to their assistance in next year's general election.

Posted August 01, 2003 08:38 AM