Specter picks up union endorsements
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A collection of Western Pennsylvania unions endorsed Sen. Arlen Specter today at a news conference at the Uptown headquarters of the Laborers' District Council of Western Pennsylvania.
But as he welcomed their support, Mr. Specter acknowledged that the results of the Massachusetts Senate race had dealt a body blow to one of labor's chief legislative priorities, the Employee Free Choice Act. Mr. Specter had said earlier that he had expected the Senate to approve a compromise version of the measure, which is designed to make it easier for unions to organize new work places. Mr. Specter said that Senate Democratic leaders and supporters of the potential compromise had made a tactical decision to consider the controversial organizing bill after passing health care reform. But the surprise election of Scott Brown has emerged as a perhaps permanent roadblock for both issues.
"Now we have lost the 60th vote," Mr. Specter said.
Officials of union locals from the region -- including carpenters, steamfitters, sheet metal workers, operating engineers, plumbers, and transportation workers -- praised Mr. Specter's record on labor issues as they backed his candidacy for the Democratic nomination against Rep. Joe Sestak of Delaware County. In the GOP primary, former Rep. Pat Toomey is regarded as the favorite in a race with Johnstown activist Peg Luksik.
Last week, Mr. Specter collected a similar endorsement at the other end of the state as he appeared with officials of Philadelphia building trades unions. Speaking to reporters after today's event, the veteran senator said that he is optimistic that the state AFL-CIO will once again endorse him before the May 18 primary.
The announcement came as new campaign contribution reports showed that Mr. Toomey had raised more money than Mr. Specter in the final quarter of 2009.
"We're still way ahead of Toomey on fund raising," Mr. Specter said, while acknowledging that conservative candidates across the country had benefitted from "a lot of energy" among conservative voters and donors in recent months.
First Published February 1, 2010 2:23 pm
