Bill Richardson Shops for a Labor Secretary

The following piece is published as part of Huffington Post's OffTheBus project.

This is the third in a three-part series. View Part 2, Part 1.

Bill Richardson spent Friday, October 5, in Atlanta, GA, where he chartered a Spanish-named campaign infrastructure in a state with its fair share of anti-immigrant sentiments; had a lonely lunch at the Varsity; and, in a bit of a switch, helped local Democrats raise a little money for their efforts here at home.

Gov. Richardson capped off his long day in Atlanta with a visit to the house of labor, addressing an enthusiastic crowd at the IBEW auditorium downtown. Hosted by the Georgia Association of Democratic County Chairs, the Georgia AFL-CIO and the Young Democrats of Georgia, the event was the first in a series planned by GADCC president Mike Berlon to bring high-profile candidates to speak at real grassroots prices. The Richardson campaign wasn't promised a red cent for the extended visit, and the suggested door charge of $25 -- waived for unemployed or under-employed Young Dems and anyone else on the ropes -- went directly to the GADCC to cover the cost of the event and support other Democratic efforts in Georgia.

Well aware of his audience, Gov. Richardson spoke to key concerns of the labor movement, including a pledge to eliminate right-to-work laws, to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, and to nominate a Labor Secretary that is a union member, "who might be just in this room."

This story appeared at shelbinator.com.

Comments

[Lazslo]

Nobody has commented on this post? Damn it! I've decided - I am voting for Richardson. The campaign has to garner more media attention. What can I do to help the Richardson campaign here in Washington? Does the Richardson campaign view these blogs?

[Nonamnesiac]

Richardson/Clinton would be an excellent ticket. However I'm afraid it's going to be the other way around, which is NOT a good ticket. Richardson is excellent on the war and good on labor. Clinton is unwilling to commit to leaving Iraq by 2013, voted to help give Bush more legitimacy to attack Iran and just does the minimum a New York Democrat can do to assist labor.

[CatherineAtlanta]

Nice work Shelby!

Many thanks to Governor Richardson for taking time from his busy schedule to hang out with us at the Union Hall! It was a great event.

Oh, and big shout-out to the Gov for his support of the Equal Rights Amendment! Haven't heard mention of that in many a moon.

Good work all around.

[cynara]

Hi Shelby,
I just want to say that I appreciate your reports. I'm in California, where there are basically no public appearences by any candidates. Heck, the only appearences by any candidates are extremely expensive, exclusive dinners and usually in LA, SF, or Sacramento - far away from my neck of the woods, and I wouldn't be rich enough to get an invite anyway. So, your videos are letting me get to see a candidate, Bill Richardson, how people from Georgia and Iowa get to see him, virtually, in person.

Cynara