Obama And The UAW Region 4 Endorsement

The Press: "Barack Obama on Thursday won the support of United Auto Workers Region 4, a union that represents roughly 68,000 active Midwest members."

The rest of the story*:

(0) Sen. Barack Obama won a straw poll of UAW Region 4 locals. Region 4 includes Iowa.

(1) 48% of the voting members of UAW's Region 4 came from Illinois. Barack Obama comes from Illinois.

(2) 22% of the voting members come from Iowa. It turns out that, in today's straw balloting, John Edwards won twice as many Iowa locals as Obama did.

But the strength of Obama in Illinois overwhelmed Edwards (and Clinton).

(3) What happened yesterday in Dubuque was not an official endorsement -- it was a recommendation to endorse -- the UAW technically hasn't given its regional council permission to endorse.

*reprinted from last night.

Comments

Marc...why reprint this? Are you truly that distraught that Barack got the endorsement?

Why don't you ask Hillary about her "one trillion dollar tax hike" Republican talking point, eh?

Posted by David | November 16, 2007 9:48 AM

My dad is a 28-year card carrying UAW member. And he supports Barack!

Posted by Melanie | November 16, 2007 10:39 AM

Thanks for the information. What it does mean is that those who know him up close, go with Edwards. I appreciate that those from Illinois are going with their local guy, but that is not necessarily voting with their best interests in mind.

It will be interesting what the UAW decides to do. I like Obama but I don't see that he has done much work with unions. This is definitely a Chicago hardball political play.

Posted by Rene | November 16, 2007 10:40 AM

Thats what I was thinking yesterday when I saw this. With region 4 including Illinois, it pretty much drowns out the voice of Iowans, and prevents them from endorsing the candidate they actually seem to prefer. Which is clearly John Edwards.

If the national isn't going to endorse, they should leave it up to the states. Illinois shouldn't be able to dictate Iowa's choice.

Posted by Josh Medeiros | November 16, 2007 10:42 AM

Marc on this issue you are neither fair or balance, the last I check Edward rigged Obama out of endorsement from one labor group in NH, I remember reading that the group executives voted for Obama and even called him to share the news…but it was later denied the endorsement from the group leader who is an Edwards supporter.

Posted by Stan | November 16, 2007 10:57 AM

Stan, Edwards didn't "rig" Obama out of the SEIU endorsement in NH--Obama never had that endorsement. The sense of the group poll that was taken before the state council's actual vote did indicate a strong showing for Obama, but it was not a vote. When it came time to actually vote on the endorsement, despite the Obama supporters working with the Huckabee supporters, Edwards won. Game/set/match.

In terms of this particular article, thank goodness there is someone in the press who does more than regurgitate press releases. Ambinder is highlighting what is behind the press release--you know, like the FACTS.

Posted by edgery | November 16, 2007 11:14 AM

Mark - thanks for publishing the facts - ignored by Obamamaniacs reporting the UAW has endorsed Obama.

Posted by Charlotte | November 16, 2007 11:41 AM

Iowa UAW strongly supports Edwards!
Obama is a good motivational speaker and was always expected to stay No. 2 in order to distance Edwards from Hillary.
The DC establishment that created the rockstar and encouraged him to run are now saying Hillary would appoint him to the Supreme Court.
I predict Obama supporters will regret helping elect Hillary.

Posted by Richard | November 16, 2007 11:51 AM

Yikes So much foolish thinking

HOPING FOR AND WORKING FOR OBAMA

Posted by capecod | November 16, 2007 9:31 PM

Rene,

Wouldn't it be the people in Illinois who know him best?

Posted by JS | November 17, 2007 12:41 AM

Yeesh, no kidding...how unusual is it for home state anythings to endorse their home state elected one?

And what the heck is an Obamamaniacs? Gettin' a little crazed in here...

Posted by G Davis | November 17, 2007 3:27 AM

Thanks for providing the rest of the story.

It's good work like this that keeps me coming back to this site over and over.

Posted by Patty Morlan | November 17, 2007 8:54 PM