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More labor endorsements for Specter

More labor endorsements for Specter

Eight western Pennsylvania labor unions endorsed Senator Arlen Specter Monday during a rally at the Laborers District Council Hall in Pittsburgh, giving the longtime incumbent still more support ahead of the May primary.

“The Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania is proud to endorse Senator Specter for re-election,” union president Philip Ameris said in a statement. “He has always been a good friend of labor and was instrumental in passing the stimulus bill, which brought jobs to our region. We need Senator Specter now more than ever.”

The latest group of unions backing Specter represent more than 48,000 workers. Even though primary opponent Joe Sestak has supported a provision allowing workers to unionize without a secret-ballot election while Specter has not, Specter has garnered significantly more labor support during the campaign. The state’s umbrella labor organization, the AFL-CIO, has yet to weigh in on the race with only days remaining before Democratic state committee members meet this weekend in Lancaster.

Other unions endorsing Specter included the International Union of Operating Engineers Local  66; the United Transportation Union; Steamfitters Local 449; Boilermakers Local 154; Sheetmetal Workers Local 12; Plumbers A.U. 27; and the Carpenters of Greater Pittsburgh.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to bring jobs to western Pennsylvania and the entire state,” Specter said in a statement. “In today’s economy, the number one objective it to put Americans back to work—and the number one objective of Arlen Specter is jobs, jobs, jobs.”

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February 1, 2010 at 7:14 pm

--John Manganaro

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  1. David Diano

    Feb 1st, 2010

    More union endorsements to come.
    State committee endorsement this weekend should be a blowout.

  2. HateSestak

    Feb 1st, 2010

    If Sestak cannot even command the support of labor unions, why does he remain in this race? At this juncture, he is doing little more than undermining the Democratic Party. Given his dismal poll numbers (and the multiplicity of ongoing investigations and inquiries he faces) one wonders whether the embattled Representative is bent on self-destruction. Why is he subjecting himself to a grueling, unproductive and potentially ruinous campaign? Why is he alienating every prominent figure in the Democratic Party? And why is he incurring the (mounting) risk that he will be publicly humiliated in the weeks to come? Perhaps Representative Sestak is steeped in denial. Or perhaps he never recovered from his shameful and dishonorable ouster from the armed forces, and he subconsciously believes he deserves all the indignity and mental pain that awaits him. Whatever the explanation, his foes are finding the spectacle quite enjoyable…

  3. David Diano

    Feb 1st, 2010

    Hater-
    I’d be finding it more enjoyable if he wasn’t damaging the party and our chances to take out Toomey.
    I think the realization will dawn on Sestak, but I don’t want that to happen until after March 10th.
    Sestak’s strategy has always been that people will be dazzled and see stars in their eyes (specifically 3 stars) once they see and hear him. It is inconceivable to him and his family that people don’t fall down to their knees in worship. The first time I ever met Sestak, he referred to himself as “God”. (Creepy as that sounds, it was even creepier to witness it.)
    Sestak is likely convinced of his own holy righteousness and that he will prevail. He’s take new (false) hope from the Scott Brown victory and (like many) misinterpreted the results as an opportunity.

    At a recent campaign-school we learned about the mistakes of letting the candidate control some elements of the campaign. The postmortem examination of Sestak’s loss should wind up as a cautionary tale for future candidates.

    As for the unions, I’m convinced that Sestak’s original strategy was to split the Democratic Party by peeling off the unions. That’s why the local Steelworkers union was the lynch-pin of his plan (and, ironically, defeat, based upon what you’ve revealed).

  4. STEELBLITZ1

    Feb 2nd, 2010

    Dan-

    United Mine Workers too… thats a big one.

  5. Lee Levan

    Feb 2nd, 2010

    With more than 70% of voters polled not favoring Specter’s re-election, this race is far from over — no matter what the Dem State Committee does this weekend.

    It is bizarre that a similar percentage doesn’t know enough about Sestak yet. I wouldn’t bet the farm on either candidate at this point. I will say, however, that Sestak had better begin his media campaign and get much better known fast, or Specter will win based upon name recognition alone.

  6. David Diano

    Feb 2nd, 2010

    Lee-
    It’s more than just name recognition. Sestak’s got a thin resume for Senate and he’s a piss-poor campaigner, substituting quantity for quality.
    Sestak’s been campaigning, and improving his name recognition, and falling further behind. He’s being rejected by Democratic voters.

    Just because voters think Specter doesn’t deserve reelection, doesn’t mean that those voters will think Toomey deserves election. Toomey still has to earn their vote, like Specter has for decades.

  7. phillpi

    Feb 3rd, 2010

    Are you people sick and tired of corruption?If so why elect thig guy again?He wants to bring jobs to western Pa and the rest of the state,Please!Specter is a flip flopper cant you tell,he hasnt earned it with the democrats yet.

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