A PARTY OF INTERESTS

:Labor takes center stage (THOMAS BEAUMONT, 07/13/2003, Des Moines Register)

Iowa union leaders say Gephardt, who ran for president in 1988 with substantial labor support, is familiar to many of their members. But many say their support for him is not assured, and that Kerry, Dean and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich are friendly to workers' issues.

The candidate who wins support from the state's auto workers, public employees and other key unions will have a significant advantage going into the leadoff Iowa caucuses, they say.

"Dick Gephardt, John Kerry, our members are very favorable about, but they know who these guys are," said Jan Corderman, president of the Iowa Association of State, County and Municipal Employees, a proven force in Iowa politics. "I think that probably the up-and-comer . . . is Dennis Kucinich."

Kucinich has "had a real presence here in Iowa recently" and has received an enthusiastic reception, said Corderman, whose 13,000-member union is the state's second largest.

"Our folks are impressed with his position on issues," she said. "He's definitely a man of the people. But he's also one that people need to hear more about."

About 70,000 workers belong to Iowa's six largest unions, according to the Iowa Federation of Labor. Union activists make up about a third of Democratic caucus activists, according to party officials. [...]

While winning support from Iowa's union Democrats is key, labor officials in the state say many activists take their cues from the national union's endorsement.

Kucinich also voted against NAFTA and includes in his standard stump speech the promise that, if elected, he will cancel the treaty, which usually earns him cheers from union crowds.

Listing Leftwards.... Posted by Orrin Judd at July 15, 2003 11:32 PM