AFL-CIO Poll: Union Support for Obama Grows in Key States

[Omaha Steve]

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/10/28/afl-cio-poll-union-support-for-obama-grows-in-key-states/

October 28, 2008, 7:28 pm
AFL-CIO Poll: Union Support for Obama Grows in Key States

Kris Maher reports on labor and the presidential race.

The AFL-CIO plans on Wednesday to release some of its own polling of union members that shows Democrat Barack Obama pulling away among members in the swing states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

The labor federation says that Obama has a 29-point lead (61%-32%) over his Republican rival, John McCain, in Ohio — a 16 percentage point gain since August. Obama leads among union members in Pennsylvania by 63% to 27%, up 22 points from August, and by 68% to 23% in Michigan, up 26 points since August.

“We’re hitting critical mass at precisely the right time,” said AFL-CIO president John Sweeney.

The AFL-CIO is about to wage a four-day get-out-the-vote blitz for Obama. Starting Saturday, the labor federation plans to send “tens of thousands” of union volunteers to visit more than 3.9 million union households, make 5.5 million phone calls and pass out more than 2 million leaflets at union work sites.

This year, the federation has sent out 250,000 union volunteers to talk up Obama and other Democratic candidates to other union members. The group identified more than 3 million undecided voters in August and since then has been targeting groups of union members like veterans and gun owners in swing states.

The AFL-CIO estimates that its voter mobilization effort, which includes the efforts of its 56 unions that represent 10 million workers, will cost a total of $250 million this year.

A McCain campaign spokesman didn’t respond to a voicemail and email seeking comment.
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