Breaking News: Big Nevada service union endorses Obama

On the night that he came in second in the New Hampshire primary, Barack Obama came in first with the Nevada chapter of the large Service Employees International Union. He won that important union's official endorsement a few minutes ago.

The influential union's 17,500 health care and county worker members will come in very handy for Nevada's Jan. 19 caucuses. The union's choice will come as a serious disappointment for both Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, who both coveted it too. And the timing late tonight is likely no accident.

Union president Vicky Hedderman said just before midnight that the union's decision came during a late-night conference call of the executive board Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. But the timing of such a rapid news release without elaborate media attendance comes as a convenient public relations counterpunch to Clinton's narrow New Hampshire election win Tuesday night.

It also gets the SEIU endorsement in ahead of another anticipated Obama endorsement Wednesday by Nevada's Culinary Workers Union, Local 226, which has 60,000 members.

Hedderman said Obama is a candidate "who could take the campaign all the way to November."

Obama has previously received the endorsement of SEIU state councils and locals in five states, including Illinois. Edwards has won the endorsement of SEIU's California State Council, which could make its 600,000 members available to help him.

Under SEIU union rules, the Nevada endorsement allows SEIU locals in other states to lend volunteers and resources to its Nevada counterpart on behalf of Obama.

Ten days left.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[deborah]

what a mistake!!!

[Marks]

Great! I don' t know why Unions stories kept saying they weren't behind Obama. Maybe Unions just didn't know him well enough.

Nevada is going to be interesting who wins.

How many people are reading life stories of these candidates? Their character is going to win the White House more than "experience". What candidate has qualities in their character to bridge political obstruction at the White House?

Has Hillary's past venom at the Right Wing Conspiracy lessoned? Her and Bill battling Obama, she hasn't had time to take on Republicans.

Will the past Clinton problems come up again stifling progress in Congress so things can't be accomplished in a bipartisan way? Are partisan walls growing larger and gulf between the parties expanding if Hillary is the nominee?

[Sherry, Pasty Chef LV Nevada]

Thank you so much for endorsing Senator Barack Obama! One NG win does not make Clinton as she had been calling herself (before her rude wake up call in Iowa) indespinsable.

You absolutely rock! While Edwards would be a perfect fit --- I truly can understand how you had to select the best candidate who will be quaranteed to remain in the race through the duration.

You made the right choice and I'm proud of you!

[special interests]

So will Obama denounce any union 527s that run ads supporting him in Nevada?
What a hypocrite - when Obama was in Iowa unions were special interests but now that he needs labor in NV Obama loves unions.

[randy duren]

the culinary workers have pulled their Obama endorsement. the union will be neutral in the Nevada primary (source: Tim Russert on MSNBC). So much for labor "surge" towards Obama.

[Elian Gonzales]

"Will the past Clinton problems come up again stifling progress in Congress so things can't be accomplished in a bipartisan way?"

Because this was the Clintons' fault, right? And things will magically get done under President Obama because he's riding a pony called "Change?"

Exactly why did this union endorse him anyway?

[tOd]

Stop the White Witch.

Go Obama !!!!

[Robert]

Well done! Both from a timing standpoint and from a decision-making standpoint. Barack is the candidate who brings about the most inspiration and hope to we, the people. That's the important point many miss. We're not voting for a dictator to do it all him/herself. We're voting for someone to do their job and inspire and enable us to do ours to our highest degree. Barack sets that tone the best.

Thank you.

[Anderson Nguyen]

I am so happy for Nevada and Senator Obama right now. Congrats guys!!

[billy humble]

I have seen the Kenyans who have come to the local college to get scolarships that could have helped locals in in adepressed area. Most of these people try to mary fat white girls to stay here.

I also remember comming home from a days work to find that one of the Kenyan crack heads had broke in my apartment and trashed it, also I remember the two windshields and door glasses broke out of my
truck that resulted in my insurance being canceked.

Personally, I am not ready for one to be president

[asdffbbxcvxb]

bill clinton calling obama a "kid?" bill, he is a us senator buddy. regardless of his poll numbers. why do we end up in the mud?

[mustkilltreemake2x4]

It's funny, I can't even remember what labor group endorsed whom the last 30 days. It doesn't hurt to have their backing and money, but Obama is not lacking in money. After this caucus thing is done and registered Democrats actually start voting in private booths, I think Obama will need a lot more than a few labor endorsements to win. Edwards got a lot of endorsements. Another twist, never count out the Hispanic vote in the Southwest. People have forgotten them it seems. Clinton will try to ride the women and Hispanic vote to the White House.

[Leigh]

QUOTE I AGREE WITH

BY ERIK RUSH RENEW AMERICA

I don't see that issues of faith — and Obama at least claims to be a Christian — carry much weight with the majority of voters. Frankly, I'm more concerned with his loyalty to the United States of America, and in my opinion, his public refusal to place hand over heart and recite the Pledge of Allegiance itself ought to have creamed his campaign — but he skated.

[jjj]

Now Obama can help bring in more impoverished immigrants to bring wages down further. Is that what the union want?

[Anne]

I just watched Obama on FOX news this AM and he said he thought he was going to get the union backing, but nothing has been secured or anounced as yet.

Is this story just wishful thinking based on hopes?

Atleast wait to announce endorsements until after a candidate is informed that the information is factual.

[Willy Lee]

Sherry, are you retarded? Why are you speaking to the LA Times as if they made the decision to endorse Obama? And what the hell does "indespinsable." mean?

[Matthew]

I like all the talk about Sen. Obama being the candidate to run all the way to November. Unfortunately its flawed.

We live in a nation of color, especially when it comes to politics. Red and Blue states. Yellow-dog democrats. It is sad but true to say that Mr. Obama is the wrong color. Its not that he's too black -- he's too green. He's too inexperienced to win a general election.

For all of his comparisons to JFK, Mr. Obama did not have 14 years in Congress under his belt, nor was he a war hero.

Could you imagine an Obama-McCain election? Sen. McCain will trounce Sen. Obama on experience and national security. The realism of fear always trumps the poetry of hope. Look at how the Republicans swiftboated Kerry. They'll do worse to a man who has no military background and has openly admitted to hard drug use.

If the rest of the Democratic party is half as smart as those party goers in New Hampshire, Sen. Clinton or Sen. Edwards will get the nomination.

[bluestatevoter]

After Obama blasted SEIU as a special interest in Iowa -- this makes no sense.

THe Union has no self esteem.

[Steve Wurtzel]

Do all of the union members vote in lock step or do they think for themselves?
I have often wondered about that. It seems to me that people should be free to make up their own minds as to who they want to vote for. I thought unions were to help employees seek benefits from their employers, not to drive a stake into their voing heart.

[kaput]

I am glad Obama is getting the support in Nevada. He and Edwards are genuiine humans, class acts. Not bogged in the traditional politicking that Hillary and Slick Willy are masters of. I was a supporter of Willy, I met him, spoke with him, believed in his message. But after recent comments I see he is nothing but another greasy politician out to get power.

I found it glaring that Hillary was so classless as to barely acknowledge her competitors in her speech last night. Both Edwards and Obama acknowledged their competition straight away and she just gushed, stole lines from Obama and Edwards speeches, soaking it all in.

[Martisa]

I beleive this was a that the decision to endorse Obama was indeed a decision of change, and that you beleive in change to.

Here is what change should mean to America. Change should mean getting rid of political control and allowing someone in there who has a fresh record w/o being controlled by politics and understanding that this is a democratic nation. This is a nation where the people speak and politicians should listen.

However, what has happened over the years is that the politicians lie, lie, lie to get the position they want. Then they change their position once they get in, Barack shows that he is willing to stand up for the people and knock down the barriers of the political wall and make change immenent.

Thanks, he deserves a chance to show us this can and will happen. I actually trust him more than I trust the Clinton's, and yes, I am female.

[PulSamsara]

If SEXIST Nepotism gets Hillary nominated I'm voting against the Democrats for the first time ever.

America is a Democracy = Not a Monarchy

[John]

Wow. The unions made another terrible mistake, just like howard dean a few years back. Watch hillary win this.

[Jose]

Excellent choice. This is the candidate with the freshest/brightest ideas. I'm thrilled about the Obama support. He undoubtedly has a better chance of winning the general election than the HIllary camp. Go Barack!

[Chuck]

Obama admits campaign/PAC donation linksBad news for the Barack Obama camp and his politics of hope clean-guy image.The Washington Post reveals today that there was, indeed, close coordination between the Illinois senator's presidential campaign and his leadership PAC, Hopefund, in deciding which local, state and federal politicians around the country were to receive thousands of dollars in contributions from Obama's PAC.Such coordination appears to be forbidden under Federal Election Commission rules because it, in effect, would give a candidate another, less regulated financial fund to influence the outcome of his own campaign. But Obama officials express confidence they violated no rules. The Post's John Solomon reported the other day that Obama's Hopefund had distributed money in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire to people like New Hampshire state Sen. Jacayln Cilley, who got $1,000 from Obama last summer. Six days later the Democrat in the nation's first primary state announced her endorsement of his candidacy because she said she believed in him.Likewise, Obama's PAC gave $9,000 to U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes, who was New Hampshire's first congressional member to endorse Obama. In the earlier story Obama spokesmen denied any connection between the PAC and Democratic presidential campaign.But today's piece alters that account and says the PAC has distributed $180,000 to groups and candidates in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa and another $150,000 to similar destinations in states with primary balloting through mid-February.Bob Bauer, private counsel for both Obama's campaign and PAC, named names of those from the campaign who'd help select the PAC's recipients and professed confidence the Obama entities had met all FEC regulations.But Scott Thomas, a Democrat and former FEC chairman, says: "He is clearly pushing the envelope."

[uuforyou]

McCain is unpredictable and unstable.
Is he for the fundamentalists or is he against them?
Is he for secured borders or is he against them?
Is he for tax cuts or is he against them?
He said we'd be in Iraq for 100 years or more.
He says he'll keep us safe, but that we should live in fear.
He said he's against torture,
but for Guintanamo.
He talks about experience, but what has he actually accomplished
in the senate all these years?
He says one thing one time and something else later.
I do not know who McCain is or where he really stands.
These are serious concerns for me, Thats why I'm voting for Hillary.
I know her and what she stands for! (Clinton/Obama would be awsome!)

[Tim (Nottingham, MD)]

It's a problem for me to listen to all of you with the fallout of the primary in New Hamphshire. The story line should have read as follows: "Clinton uses her tears to win". The media whether local or national are always looking for a story that has no substance to it. Primarily, if Obama had won they would have called for Clinton to get out of the race or at least suggested that it was nearly over for her. However, since she narrowly won now all of sudden she is a candidate to be dealt with. Make up your sorry minds and let the voters decide who they want. As for the writer talking about how McCain would win on experience and natioanl security what a JOKE. McCain has been running for president as long as EDWARDS and has he even come close to getting the nomination EXACTLY. The issue for is how easily we are willing to put someone down who isn't the color we prefer them to be. I am so tired of the racist white people who are more than the dummies I believe them to be. The white nation as we call it is always willing to exploit a candidate by making remarks that would give raise to a audience that would run with it on the national level when we will wake up and get our minds together with the best possible outcome for the American public. The Washington insiders are only interested in making themselves look good and making sure they don't miss out on any federal contract and of course pac money. I am so unnerved by the what I am seeing in politics. In closing, as for the endorsement being removed that is a issue for the people who did it. It's not a discussion we need to partake in. Once again proving my point of what does it matter whether anyone gets them if they are not the candidate of choice all the endorsements will not give raise to an electorable candidate to win the white house.

[liberty]

if mccain or hillary win - may god bless this country...
billy humble ur an idiot and bigot.. Ur the reason bush won twice

[Hotel worker]

From NBC’s Andy Merten and Domenico Montanaro
Nevada’s Culinary Workers Union officially endorsed Obama today in Las Vegas. And while the format of the press conference largely reflected your typical presidential endorsement -- praise for the other candidates with a laundry list of rationales for the ultimate choice -- there was one tidbit that stood out in this one: comparisons to, well, food.

“I have a lot of respect for those folks in Iowa and New Hampshire, but we’re not just Wonder Bread, here,” said D. Taylor, secretary treasurer of Culinary Workers Union Local 266, of Nevada and the union's racial diversity. "We’ve got pumpernickel; we got whole wheat; and we got rye.”

And Taylor couldn’t resist leaving it at just that. He went on to compare the decision to pick Obama to a trip to Baskin Robins: “Maybe you have a certain flavor you want. But you generally look around, don’t you? And you test a few.”

The union, which boasts a membership of more than 60,000, is seen as a key endorsement in Nevada, a state where there are less than 500,000 registered Democrats in the whole state and certainly not all come out for caucuses.

[John: a UNITE HERE worker]

UNITE HERE leadership has tolf us to go on strike when an employer pushes a health care plan similar to Obama's. UNITE HERE tell us that we demand universal coverage and will strike for anything less.

I'm furious that every strike we have had locally in NYC has had health care issues at it's core. Now we are supposed to put someone who is making this same unacceptable proposition in the White House? NO WAY! You can use the buzzword change all you want, Obama's health care plan is status quo. Also Obama had been denouncing unions as special interests. Obama will never get my UNITE HERE vote.

[Mollie]

As somoene said, hopefully Obama denounces his 527 ads, or he will be toast. Edwards a far better candidate than Obama would ever be.

[Earl]

"The issue for is how easily we are willing to put someone down who isn't the color we prefer them to be. I am so tired of the racist white people who are more than the dummies I believe them to be. The white nation as we call it is always willing to exploit a candidate by making remarks that would give raise to a audience that would run with it on the national level when we will wake up and get our minds together with the best possible outcome for the American public." - Tim, Nottingham, MD

So this is your plan? Guilt white Americans into voting for Obama? I think, Tim, you should reread your own statements before you start generalizing whites as being racist. Your own statements are some of the racist I have seen in this entire campaign season.

[Jolee]

Don't pay taxes on your tips; vote for Ron Paul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!