Firefighters on front line in Kerry's campaign

[NNN0LHI]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001878202_firefighters13m0.html

When images of firefighters at Ground Zero flashed in the first TV spots of President Bush's re-election campaign, criticism came quickly from the union representing firefighters, which charged that the president was trading on their bravery for political gain.

The International Association of Fire Fighters is quick to protect the image of its 255,000 members, particularly post-Sept. 11. But last week's call from the IAFF for Bush to cancel the ads also signals the high-profile role firefighters will play in the 2004 presidential election as backers of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Already the union's ties to Kerry have positioned it as a largely Democratic political power that belies its relatively small size.

"They're not one of the traditional powerhouses within the AFL-CIO. They don't have the biggest numbers, but they are everywhere," said Elaine Kamarck, a lecturer at Harvard's Kennedy School. She is a former Clinton aide and Al Gore campaign official.

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[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I think that firefighters in general will follow their lead

This union has been telling the truth on Bush about his lack of funding for First Responders, etc. Other fire fighters who are not union (around here they are all volunteers) are listening to what is being said.