How did Harman survive the primary?

[Ken Burch]

It looked like Marcy Winograd had a huge level of volunteer support and inspired tons of enthusiasm, but her vote share just barely went up from 2006.

Also, why would the ILWU have endorsed Harman? I thought it was a progressive union.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Beats me.

I thought she had a better chance too, this time.

Damn.

I wonder what her next move will be...

[sabrina 1]

2. So-called Liberal groups did not come out for her.

I found it difficult to find any information about that race on Liberal blogs except for After Downing Street.

They apparently didn't want to offend the Party, so while they didn't exactly endorse Harman, they did nothing for Marcy Winograd. One liberal group came late to the party, can't remember which one. But it was a disgrace that there was not an all out effort to get out the vote for her. I tried here and on a few other blogs to stimulate interest in the race, but I didn't see much enthusiasm. I do not understand it either. And of course the Party was solidly behind Harman. I lost a lot of respect for Henry Waxman over this.

[Ken Burch]

3. What kind of threats, do you think, were made to keep the "Liberal groups" on the sidelines?

And how much of a role do you think Winograd's Israel/Palestine position played in this?

You'd think this would be a deep-blue left-liberal district, especially since it includes Venice.

[sabrina 1]

4. I don't know if they received threats or they just knew

it would not make the party happy to oppose their Corporate incumbent especially after the party leadership endorsed her. I cannot understand it. Harman is as bad as any Republican I can think of. Otoh, they have received conference calls from Rahm Emanuel before telling them to leave the Blue Dogs alone, and they did all fall in line for that, except for FDL. So it's possible it happened again. The larger groups did pretty much sell out a long time ago so I don't pay much attention to them anymore.

As for Marci's position on Israel, that might have been a factor. I actually wasn't that familiar with her stand on the issues there until I heard her on NPR. I agreed with everything she said. But yes, that probably lost her the support of the party leadership but the Liberal Groups should not have been disturbed by her speaking out on the issue. Her position is very Liberal after all. I know she never expected the Party to support her anyway, but I imagine she did expect more help from the 'netroots'. Look how much they did for Halter eg.

She is so good on almost all of the issues. I was very disappointed.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. The ILWU exists to benefit its members

Harman has usually been a solid vote on bread and butter issues which unions care about. The main difference between her and Winograd was foreign policy.

[Ken Burch]

6. And the ILWU has always been the most progressive union in the country

ON foreign policy issues. It was one of the only unions to oppose the war in Vietnam.

(BTW, I'm a member of the Inlandboatman's Union of the Pacific-the Maritime Division of the ILWU).

It's hard to believe Harry Bridges would be down with this.

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Times change. Harry Bridges is dead.

Although the ILWU probably agrees with Winograd on foreign policy issues, that factor was not enough to overcome the fact that Harman has been with them on the issues that are most important to its members.

[Ken Burch]

8. You may be right.

For the record, this is the only time I've ever seen you post anything remotely pro-labor, Freddie.