Breaking: Oregon AFSCME breaks ranks, endorses Obama

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Blue Oregon

Earlier this afternoon, Oregon AFSCME voted to endorse Barack Obama for President. Previously, the national AFSCME organization had endorsed Hillary Clinton.

Oregon AFSCME becomes the only state organization in the country - other than Illinois AFSCME, in Obama's home state - to break ranks with the national.

Oregon AFSCME's executive director, Ken Allen, described the vote as "overwhelming."

From their statement:

Several members of the Oregon AFSCME Executive Board explained their support for Obama.


Read more: http://www.blueoregon.com/2008/03/breaking-oregon.html

[Frances]

1. Sometimes I think I am the only objective person on DU

when it comes to Obama and Hillary.

My main goal is to have a Dem in the White House.

Both Hillary and Obama have strengths, but Obama seems to do better in both Washington state and in Oregon.

Hillary did better than Obama in California. If Obama is our nominee, then we Dems will need to have Richardson and other prominent Hispanics as well as prominent Asians campaign for him here. We do have a Repub governor and McCain has been popular in CA.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

5. Keep that good news coming!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

15. California is too big cover for a new candidate

If he had another two weeks he'd have passed her. As it stands now early voting went for 1) Clinton 2)Obama 3) Edwards

Plus votes that were recently counted added more delegates to Obama from CA. 4 more for Obama. 4 Less for Hillary

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. #5. Oregon has alwaysays been against the curve...

...that's why I moved here. :)

[gristy]

3. 64 delgates at stake in OR on May 20

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P08/OR-D.phtml

[Politicalboi]

4. But But But

What about Rev Wright? Damn Hillary is going to be pissed LOL. I think Hillary won Ca because of early voting. Obama hadn't really gained enough popularity when they voted early. I would like to see what would happen if it were held today.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

6. He'd take CA today, no doubt.

[Frances]

7. Actually I think Hillary would take CA if we voted tomorrow

That's not to say that Obama can't take CA in the general. However, he shouldn't take CA for granted. Arnold, unfortunately, is popular in this state and he will do all he can to help McCain.

We will need to win the Hispanics and the Asians to our side in the general. McCain has flip-flopped on immigration and hopefully his flip=flops will hurt him here in the general.

I REALLY want a Dem in the White House but I do my best to be objective about the best way for us to win that all-important prize.

[ariesgem]

9. Currently Obama Leads McCain by 15, Clinton Leads By 7

Friday, March 14, 2008

Democratic divisiveness may be hurting the party’s general election prospects in states like Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, but not in California. That latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the nation’s most populous state shows Barack Obama leading John McCain 53% to 38%. Hillary Clinton leads McCain 46% to 39%.

Nationally, the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll finds a very competitive race between McCain and either Obama or Clinton.

In California, Obama leads McCain by twenty-two points among men and by eight points among women. Clinton leads McCain by seventeen among women but trails by two points among men.

Obama is viewed favorably by 59% of the state’s voters, McCain by 49%, and Clinton by 47%.

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/california/california_2008_presidential_election

[Frances]

10. Thanks for the info

Those results are reassuring.

I HATE having Arnold for governor and don't know why my neighbors like him. I couldn't bear it if CA didn't go Dem in the general election.

[movonne]

11. Yes but arnold's wife endorsed Obama and I think I heard on the

tv when Obama was campaigning there that Maria is extremely popular...

[xxqqqzme]

8. I also believe he would win in CA now.

I know many Edwards supporters who voted early and were sorry they couldn't vote for Obama after Edwards withdrew.

[Oslo]

12. Good news! Break the Swift Boating on TV!

[gristy]

13. Obama polling well in Oregon (4 weeks ago)

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/oregon/oregon_2008_presidential_election

Oregon 2008 Presidential Election
Oregon: Obama Leads McCain, McCain Leads Clinton
Sunday, February 17, 2008

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone poll in Oregon shows John McCain leading Hillary Clinton 45% to 42%. However, Barack Obama leads John McCain 49% to 40%. McCain leads Clinton among voters not affiliated with either major political party but Obama leads McCain.

Last August, McCain also led Clinton by three percentage points. Obama was not included in that round of polling.

The current poll finds Clinton leading McCain by four points among men but trailing the Republican by eleven points among women. Obama leads McCain by fourteen percentage points among women and by five among men.

McCain earns the vote from 76% of political conservatives when matched against Clinton. He attracts 69% of conservatives when matched against Obama.

Clinton is viewed favorably by 48% of voters in Oregon, unfavorably by 50%. Those figures are little changed since August.

McCain is now viewed favorably by 56% and unfavorably by 42%. That’s an improvement since August when just 46% had a favorable opinion of the Arizona Senator.

Obama is the most popular of all three candidates at this time—66% favorable, 31% unfavorable.

[depakid]

20. Not that I put the slightest bit of stock in Rasmussen

but Obama should carry Oregon easily- both in the primary and probably the general, should he be the nomineee.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

14. K&R

I'm one of many in CA who have switched from Gore to Edwards to Obama. He will take the state.

[alcibiades_mystery]

16. Yeah, Clinton should win 65%+ in Oregon....

:spray:

:rofl:

[Omaha Steve]

17. To date, AFSCME has spent over $5 million since December to elect Hillary

Add in the hours of volunteer time from members phone banking, door to door, etc... This is big news. I'm an AFSCME member btw. :-)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/03/union.html

March 05, 2008

As Clinton and Obama struggle, so do the unions behind each

Some people think the ongoing struggle between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton is about, well, Democratic presidential politics. Silly them!

The campaign is also a titanic battle among unions, as newly filed financial figures revealed today to the expert eyes of The Times' Dan Morain.

The American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees spent $1 million on ads supporting Clinton in Texas and Ohio recently. The money went through American Leadership Project, a newly formed organization...

backing her candidacy. Altogether, AFSCME has spent $5 million on Clinton’s behalf since December.

AFSCME delivered its latest $1 million on Feb. 29. The late surge wasn't revealed until the American Leadership Project made its first campaign finance filing with the Federal Election Commission today, the day after Texas and Ohio voted to keep Clinton in the race.



Below is from AFSCME.

PEOPLE’s power comes from AFSCME Members. Get Involved!
How to Contribute

Voluntary member contributions to PEOPLE help elect pro-worker candidates because by law union dues cannot be used to fund political campaigns. With PEOPLE, we help elect candidates who support public services, fair contracts, affordable health care and secure retirement.

Get involved

Through PEOPLE thousands of AFSCME members help get out the vote for candidates who support working families and public services. We make phone calls, knock on doors, and do whatever it takes to turn out more voters. For 2008, our goal is to have 40,000 AFSCME members working to help take back the White House. Be a part of history and join us.

Contributions or gifts to AFSCME PEOPLE are not deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Federal law prohibits AFSCME PEOPLE from soliciting contributions from anyone other than members, executive and administrative personnel and the families of such individuals. All contributions are voluntary and will be used in accordance with the bylaws of the AFSCME PEOPLE Committee for political contributions and expenditures. Contributions are not required as a condition of membership in AFSCME or any of its affiliates, nor is it a condition of continued employment and is free of reprisal.

[roguevalley]

18. I belong to that union and they can endores anyone. I will still vote

obama now. GO, OREGON, the most progressive state and my heart's home.

[goclark]

19. great news~

[Omaha Steve]

21. I too am for Obama

I wish AFSCME had waited the convention to make an endorsement.

OS

[Zhade]

22. Oregon, being fairly progressive, rejects the false liberal.

Nice.

[catgirl]

23. Good news!!

I hope Oregon gives Obama a huge win!