AFL-CIO Drops New Mailers In OH, MI, PA, WI
The AFL-CIO begins a ramped-up campaign to define Sen. Barack Obama with union members and their families in battleground states, focusing heavily on working-class, swing union voters in OH, MI, PA and WI. The goal, per union officials, is to dispel the many rumors circulating about Obama via two new mailers, dropped today, that ask and answer still-looming questions about the candidate. The union will send the pieces to 600K swing voters living in the four critical battleground states.
"Sen. Obama has proven time and again that he's a champion for working families who will deliver the economic change we so desperately need," said AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman. "Working people are focused on issues that matter like good jobs, fair trade, health care reform and retirement security. They aren't about to let the right-wing attack machine distort Sen. Obama's record or defame his reputation in a desperate attempt to maintain the disastrous economic status quo."
One of the mailers aims directly to dispel myths and rumors about the IL senator. The other features worker testimonials on Obama's record on jobs, health care reform and workers' rights.
Union officials tell On Call that the mailers mark the launch of a massive August campaign to clearly define Obama for millions of union voters, and to contrast the Democrat's' policies and plans with those of his GOP rival, John McCain.
Here are other elements of the AFL-CIO's effort for Obama:
-- The group's focus is on mobilizing working people in 24 states, targeting about 13M union voters, including members, householders, retirees and those involved with the group's community affiliate, Working America. Union voters make up between 25-35 percent of the vote on Election Day in OH, MI, PA and WI.
-- In August, AFL-CIO volunteers will deliver 1M flyers about Obama's record and background to worksites across the country. Overall, more than 4M flyers have already been distributed to worksites, including flyers about McCain's "anti-worker" record, sources said.
-- Every weekend in August union volunteers will canvass neighborhoods across the country, providing voters with information about Obama's record and contrasting it with McCain's. Again, swing voters will be targeted. AFL-CIO volunteers will also be phone banking all month to swing union voters in key states.
-- Members of Working America, the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO for those without a union, are canvassing nightly to discuss the issues that matter to working-class voters. In OH alone, more than 160 canvassers are going out every day. Working America currently has nearly 2.5M members, including 800K in Ohio.
One note: The AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council, launched last month in five states, is expected to create new state councils expected in August. The Veterans Council will play an integral role in mobilizing 2.1M union veterans, according to union officials. Meanwhile, the TV ad about McCain's economic priorities, featuring union veteran Jim Wasser, continues to run in media markets in six states: MI, MN, OH, PA, VA and WI. Also since February, AFL-CIO volunteers have now protested at more than 100 McCain campaign events from coast to coast.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
This is great I hope it get to the little in pa and wv i live in one of those towns and still to this day people still think Obama is a muslim, or even tlike this morning some one who does not Honor or troop, when i tell them of his voting record vs mccain they are in shock...These are the people who get there news mainly from prime time new not the internet evening new like Keith O (MSNBC) I salute you in your efforts.
This is great I hope it get to the little in pa and wv i live in one of those towns and still to this day people still think Obama is a muslim, or even tlike this morning some one who does not Honor or troop, when i tell them of his voting record vs mccain they are in shock...These are the people who get there news mainly from prime time new not the internet evening new like Keith O (MSNBC) I salute you in your efforts.
This is great I hope it get to the little in pa and wv i live in one of those towns and still to this day people still think Obama is a muslim, or even tlike this morning some one who does not Honor or troop, when i tell them of his voting record vs mccain they are in shock...These are the people who get there news mainly from prime time new not the internet evening new like Keith O (MSNBC) I salute you in your efforts.
cool, a do nothing worthless union is pushing a near worthless candidate. Of course, using your money to do it with.
Why are they trying to define him? Shouldn't there be more than enough from his legislative record? er, I mean, state "present" legislative record, er, I mean community organizer record, er, I mean, his law firm record, er, I mean...oh, never mind.
I hope they get the discounted franking privilege because they're going to have to mail out a new one in two months..or perhaps they could print both sides and label them "Obama's position on even days" and "Obama's position on odd days."
Then again, after all the hoopla surrounding his heal the world tour, shouldn't people know this stuff already? (that is after they put down their bibles and stop toting guns).
Hey Mark, bitter?
I read the article in the morning paper about you publishing fliers to dispel the rumors about Obama. I was extremely happy to find out that someone was addressing this problem. I wish you lots of luck in your actions and hope it will open some people's minds. I am an Obama supporter and I can tell you that there are very few people I know in this area that has anything good to say about him. Why? Because of all the lies that have been circulated and they don't want to hear the truth. I really hope your efforts will enlighten at least some of them. Thank you. Genny
I read the article in the morning paper about you publishing fliers to dispel the rumors about Obama. I was extremely happy to find out that someone was addressing this problem. I wish you lots of luck in your actions and hope it will open some people's minds. I am an Obama supporter and I can tell you that there are very few people I know in this area that has anything good to say about him. Why? Because of all the lies that have been circulated and they don't want to hear the truth. I really hope your efforts will enlighten at least some of them. Thank you. Genny