AFL-CIO Launches Late Blitz For Obama, Releases Favorable Poll Numbers

The AFL-CIO and its community affiliate Working America are launching a massive, late stage get-out-the-vote effort to ensure that as many union voters as possible in 21 battleground states go to the polls come Nov. 4.

The union conglomerate will dispatch volunteers to nearly 4 million union households, in addition to making 5.5 million calls from now until Election Day.

Of equal interest, the AFL-CIO released internal polling findings on Wednesday morning that showed growing support for Barack Obama among union members since mid-August. As officials with the group note:

"In Ohio, Obama now has a 29-point advantage (61%-32%) over McCain among union members, an improvement of 16 points since August. In Pennsylvania, Obama's support has risen 22 points to a 63%-27% advantage. In Michigan, Obama now holds a commanding 68%-23% lead among union members, up 26 points. Union support is seen as crucial to Obama in the Rust Belt states as union voters are expected to comprise 25%-35% of the overall electorate in those states on November 4."

Should Obama keep this level of support among union voters, it could portend a healthy victory on election night. Coming out of the primaries -- indeed, up through a few weeks ago -- a chink in the Senator's armor seemed to be his support among working class voters, those from the Rust Belt in particular. The crisis in the housing and financial markets and other economic troubles have shifted the landscape as dramatically among this group as any other constituency.

"We're seeing a wave of support for Sen. Obama among union voters as they learn more about his positions on the issues they care about and contrast those positions to Sen. McCain's failed proposals," AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman said. "But this is no time to let up. We're going full throttle this weekend to ensure every union voter knows just how critical a vote on Election Day is to our country's future."

Comments

[lola85]

I know I am stating the obvious, but the ELECTION IS TUESDAY...IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. Let's not count our votes BEFORE THEY ARE CAST!

To all of the Obama supporters, let's not get cocky or complacent, this Presidential race is NOT OVER YET, DON'T GET LULLED INTO A FALSE SENSE OF VICTORY...­.volunteer­, make calls, drive people to the polls (note: there are many seniors citizens that don't drive and may need a ride to the polls)!!!! We can rest when the race is over. Now is not the time to stop working, keep focused!!!!!!

VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE

Obama/Biden '08
Keep HOPE alive

[PeaceOnEarth62]

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 159 out of Martinez CA supports Obama.

Proud Plumbers wife is an Mama for Obama too!!

[the964kid]

What took them so long?? Many supported Bush in important states like Ohio in 2004 and look whatthat got them. Union members stop voting against your own interests. I hope this article is correct.

[JustSpeakingMyPeace]

It is correct! I work for the AFL-CIO. We've got an enormous NATIONAL operation going.

[zanzig]

Go comrades! (meant seriously as a unionist from Australia)

[Nonamnesiac]

I spend many years working as a union rep. in PA, Ohio, IND and MI and also spent time in the South. Racist White Reagan Democrats in PA, Ohio, MI and Indiana differ from their Dixiecrat cousins. First, many are union members and have learned that affirmative action did not cause them to lose their jobs or suffer real wage loss -- that Reaganomics (voodoo economics) caused that. Dixiecrats never learned that lesson and are influenced by the "socialism:" charge. Racist White Reagan Democrats in PA, Ohio, MI and Indiana fought in Vietnam and know that wars like Iraq and Afghanistan are a waste of young American lives and limbs, just as Vietnam was. As a result, racist, White Reagan Democrats want the war to end and don't think it's worth $10 billion per month, especially given the economy. However they still might have voted for McCain based on racism and his POW status.

His selection of Crazy, Unqualified, Secessionist, Power-Mad Sarah was the final straw. Racist, White Reagan Democrats are still patriotic and KNOW she is unqualified to be President. They also know McCain is more likely to die or become incapacitated in his first term than any former President-elect. Though they don't want to vote for a Black candidate, they are voting for Obama in droves, as they are too patriotic to risk a Palin Presidency of 3 or 4 years. That's why the polls in PA, Ohio and MI have not tilted towards McCain.

[Ged2012]

Obama winning the Presidency is God's way of saying that the poor shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

[USA1776]

Solidarity!

[KathyinCT]

HuffPost's Pick

I just keep hearing "Reach for the Union Label" in my head as I read this.

My aunt was an early organizer of the women's labor union movement, leading telephone operators in Central Illinois because management wouldn't let "my girls" sit while working the big switchboards, OR go to the bathroom except on their 15 minute lunch break. My aunt had polio and used crutches and she was only 18 or so, but when they took their petitions for to management, and they came back and said not no, she said "Girls, we WALK."

And they did, leaving an entire town with NO phone service. Then she got the local bishop-- this was at the time when the Catholic Church supported workers' rights -- and he intervened.

She went on to be a national labor union leader, picketing. getting beaten and arrested, working with Eleanor Roosevelt, finally serving in the Johnson administration.

Now I've done it -- writing about her (she died a few years back, at age 90) has made me cry.

How BRAVE those young women were. We owe them so much.

UNION is not a dirty word -- when American workers are being shoved aside in mass firings by companies that only care about preserving the jobs and wealth of top management -- when management doesn't even try to work out some sort of plan to help keep as many jobs as possible -- it's time for more union leadership, not less.

Just remember Norma Rae. And

[Fabienne]

You'd have to be crazy to be a union member and vote for a Republican.

[jenrose]

Im in MI and so excited just signed up for Saturday

[ahumbleopinion]

The gap between rich and poor is getting bigger in the world's richest countries - and particularly the United States - as top earners' incomes soar while others' stagnate, according to a 30-nation report released recently. In a 20-year study of its member countries, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said wealthy households are not only widening the gap with the poor, but in countries such as the U.S., they are also leaving middle-income earners further behind. The United States has the highest inequality and poverty in the OECD after Mexico and Turkey, and the gap has increased rapidly since 2000, the report said. Thanks Republicans for this stellar performance in redistribution the wealth up. Republicans concerned for the middle class? – NOT!

[000Jade000]

Ohio's AFL-CIO phonebank has been calling me. I told them to stop calling New York area codes and concentrate on battleground states.

[shaytoonee]

Wow this is amazing.... they have been so amazing this election. congrats and thank you... keep up the work.

Democrats we cant become complacent. We must win this election. VOTE OBAMA 08

[STILJON]

Part 1

White working class males need to wake up to the reality that one candidate is for the company CEOs and one is for the workers. Working class undecided voters know that 95% of working Americans will get a tax cut under Senator Obama. What would grab them would be the fact that anyone making under $111,000 a year will get a larger tax cut under Senator Obama’s tax plan. They would be stunned to know that anyone making under $70,000 a year will get three times as much of a tax cut under Senator Obama’s tax plan. Senator McCain believes by giving tax breaks to corporations this will make it easier for them to expand business and create new jobs. These are the same tax cuts we have had for eight years and in the first 9months of 2008 alone we have lost 760,000 jobs. What in the world would make anyone think that more of the same tax cuts will after 8 years finally motivate CEOs to give you a job instead of sending it overseas where they can make even more money and raise their own salary? As a part of Senator Obama’s new middle class rescue plan he proposes a new American jobs tax credit for businesses that actually create jobs in America.

[hotwire]

Man, you've been standing at the Kool-aid bar way to long. Get off this site and educate yourself. You gotta quit believing everything you read on here. Even if O did triple the tax cut for everyone under $70,000, where's he going to get the money to replace what he's giving away? As far as the Bush tax cuts, once O let's them expire in 2010, there will be an automatic tax increase, on average, of $2000.00. The Bush tax cuts have nothing to do with your so called "lost jobs". If they were why didn't we start losing jobs when they were enacted? Obamas "American jobs tax credit" would be $3000.00, that wouldn't even begin to cover the cost of hiring a new employee.
I am the Middle class and I just want him to leave me alone. I don't want him giving me anthing but, I sure as hell don't want him taking anything away from me either. He has to find the money for all his new programs and the fact is there's more of me than there are the rich, the rich will hide their money with O as president just like they always do. they're not going to pay more. Now where do you think he's going to go for more money? The only place he can, you and me. Corporations won't pay more taxes, they'll just pass it on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.

[splenda48]

Hotwire, you need to stop drinking the kool-aid!!!! When you have CEO's of companies walking with bonsues topping $50M is a problem You cannot justify why these millionaires need additional millions! I know the answer ...GREED... This is so ridiculous. If these large corporations can find millions and millions of dollars to feed thier LUST for POWER AND MONEY, I am sure money can be found to feed the middle class and help us to elevate to a place to pay mortgagees, buy groceries, buy a book for our kids that are in college. It cost approximately $1,000 per semester for my kids books. The federal government have the audacity to say I make too much $$$$. I earn Less than 71,000 annually. Now why can't we middle class get benefits why are the FAT CATS continually receiving enormous benefits and they are labled SUPER WEALTHY!!!!!! Why are all the benefits given to them? Can you answer that for me! We the middle class take care of the poor and the rich! Why can't the middle class get some help? Do you have an answer?

[Liberoservative]

Actually, there is very little evidence to support the fact that the companies will just pass the tax increase on to their customers... there is that old supply and demand problem... also, you got the supply, I don't got the money so what are you gonna do now????

Manufacturers will price their goods according to what the market will bear... and will end up with a smaller profit margin. They will still be making money, just not obscene amounts of it..... It's called fairness.

[Brillig]

Where the f has Bush been finding money to fund a war for Seven years in IRAQ?

That is where Obama will get the money ( some of it) from...by bringing the soldiers back home.

He is also going to cut some bullshit spending on nonsense as well - and get the filthy rich to stop hiding their money in Cayman and pay taxes on it.

With all the talk about the wealthy being the highest taxed people in the world the simple fact is: THEY DONT PAY THEIR TAXES!! THEY HIDE THEIR MONEY AWAY!! SOME CORPORATIONS PAY ZERO!ZILCH!

Under Obama, we will get them paying up -

[desertflower1]

Part of it is called....getting out of the $10BILLION/MONTH war!!!! Remember that?

[STILJON]

Part 2

Senator Obama believes that a significant tax cut for individuals and businesses making under $250,000 a year will generate economic growth from the bottom up. How many middle class workers do you know taking off with their tax cuts and getting $3 a minute massages on a tropical island? That money will be spent here. Before Senator Obama is even in office he and the democrats in congress are going to fight for an infrastructure package that will create jobs rebuilding roads and schools. There is a world race underway for the top position as the world producer of the new alternative energy technology. By the time we begin to see oil from offshore drilling this energy source will be on its way out of the market. This will result in a loss of jobs and an industry that is no longer producing new jobs. However, if we move quickly to get ahead of the race for alternative energy technology we can grow an industry that will offer jobs for this generation and the next. If we reconfigure all the old plants and factories to produce wind turbines, solar panels and alternative fuel vehicles we will once again be a leading industrial nation growing jobs for us and our children. We will also have to develop a whole new energy grid for this technology creating even more jobs. Who’s on your side?

[JJeff88]

The message to union members should be to point out that lurking just beneath the hocus pocus of "who's more of a regular guy" and bogus red-baiting charges is the stealth movement by the GOP to suck more jobs out of the economy, privatize social security, health care and medicare and once again leave working people all alone to fend for themselves.

Once burned; twice warned.