Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Edwards Scores Iowa Labor Nod

1 million service workers in 9 other states support third-place hopeful

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 15, 2007 6:04 PM CDT

(Newser) – Iowa service workers backed John Edwards today, and their huge 650,000-member California branch followed suit along with 8 other chapters. SEIU's support gives Edwards about 1 million possible foot soldiers and attendees in his make-it-or-break-it drive for an upset victory at the Iowa caucus. Endorsements from other sizable SEIU chapters will follow, Dem officials say.

Edwards has courted labor more than other hopefuls, but the national SEIU stung him last week by refusing to endorse. SEIU workers can compensate by going to Iowa to help, and councils that picked other candidates—Illinois and Indiana tapped Obama today—must stay out of the cornfields altogether because Iowa’s branch backed Edwards, the New York Times reports.

In a photo provided by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), janitors and their supporters participate in the Justice for Janitors march, in the Century City section of Los Angeles, Friday,... (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is introduced by home health care worker Pauline Beck, right, during a news conference in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007. Obama worked... (Associated Press)

In this photo released by SEIU, janitors and supporters rally in the Justice for Janitors march for better wages and access to affordable health care, in the Century City area of Los Angeles, Friday,... (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, speaks during a campaign stop at a middle school in Hudson, N.H., Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007.(AP Photo/Jim Cole) (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards speaks to reporters on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007 outside of Darlington High School in Darlington, S.C. after giving a speech to students. (AP Photo/Willis Glassgow) (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Edwards Endorses Obama

Move could help Democratic front-runner with working-class whites

(NEWSER) - John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama today, calling him the one person who can bring about the "one America" that will bridge the divide between rich and poor and rebuild the nation's "moral authority." Edwards, who dropped out of the race in January, joined Obama in Michigan for the announcement, the Wall Street Journal reports. His backing could help Obama with his weak spot—working-class white voters. More»

Dems Do Their Math on Feb. 5 Primary States

Candidates pay heed to delegates, not just overall state wins

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton is all but ceding Saturday's South Carolina primary to Barack Obama, just one variation of the political calculus Democratic presidential candidates are using ahead of Super Tuesday primaries February 5, the Washington Post reports. Clinton will spotlight states with personal history—Arkansas and New York—and two with delegate counts—California and New Jersey. More»

Small Bloggers Cut a Wide Swath in NH

Candidates come calling as locals' influence widens

(NEWSER) - Average Joes moonlighting as political bloggers are wielding the power of kingmakers in tiny New Hampshire, and candidates—at least the second-tier—are noticing. Says a high school Latin teacher of his Blue Hampshire blog: “One minute I'm in the teachers' lounge making copies and the next I'm spending 30 minutes on the phone with Bill Richardson,” the Journal reports. More»

Hillary Faces Gender Hurdle in Iowa

Calls state a 'special burden,' but holds six-point lead

(NEWSER) - Gender bias may topple Hillary's Iowa bid and hurt her image as shoo-in for the Dem nomination, the Christian Science Monitor reports. She calls the state a "special burden" and was "shocked" to hear Iowans had never elected a woman governor; analysts say she's downplaying her hopes in the state, where she holds a slim six-point lead over Edwards. More»

Like Health Reform? Thank John Edwards

Remember, that was his deal in '08 campaign

(NEWSER) - If there’s one person to thank for the health-reform measure that passed the House yesterday, it’s John Edwards … really. It was Edwards, Chris Good points out, who was on stump talking about health care in 2007, even when it wasn’t a huge issue for voters, and well before Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama—and Edwards had an actual plan well before either of his Democratic primary competitors. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Edwards Scores Iowa Labor Nod

1 million service workers in 9 other states support third-place hopeful

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

John Edwards • California • Iowa • SEIU • Democratic presidential primaries • endorsement

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Edwards Endorses Obama

Move could help Democratic front-runner with working-class whites

Dems Do Their Math on Feb. 5 Primary States

Candidates pay heed to delegates, not just overall state wins

Small Bloggers Cut a Wide Swath in NH

Candidates come calling as locals' influence widens

Hillary Faces Gender Hurdle in Iowa

Calls state a 'special burden,' but holds six-point lead

Like Health Reform? Thank John Edwards

Remember, that was his deal in '08 campaign

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Edwards Scores Iowa Labor Nod

1 million service workers in 9 other states support third-place hopeful

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

John Edwards • California • Iowa • SEIU • Democratic presidential primaries • endorsement

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Edwards Endorses Obama

Move could help Democratic front-runner with working-class whites

Dems Do Their Math on Feb. 5 Primary States

Candidates pay heed to delegates, not just overall state wins

Small Bloggers Cut a Wide Swath in NH

Candidates come calling as locals' influence widens

Hillary Faces Gender Hurdle in Iowa

Calls state a 'special burden,' but holds six-point lead

Like Health Reform? Thank John Edwards

Remember, that was his deal in '08 campaign

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?