Unions Find Members Slow to Rally Behind Democrats
The Democrats will depend on labor unions - the shock troops of their political campaigns - to offset two new developments this election cycle: Tea Party enthusiasm and corporations' ability to spend unlimited amounts thanks to a Supreme Court ruling.
Labor leaders, alarmed at a possible Republican takeover of one or both Houses of Congress, promise to devote a record amount of money and manpower to helping Democrats stave off disaster. But political analysts, and union leaders themselves, say that their efforts may not be enough because union members, like other important parts of the Democratic base, are not feeling particularly enthusiastic about the party - a reality that, in turn, further dampens the Democrats' chances of holding onto their Congressional majorities.
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Two years ago, the big political problem many unions faced was persuading white union members to vote for Mr. Obama despite his race. This year the problem will be persuading union members to vote Democratic despite the bleak economy.
For the union brass, turning around voters like Mike DeGasperis, a steelworker from Martins Ferry, Ohio, could prove difficult. Mr. DeGasperis says he was "anti-Bush" over the past decade, but he now voices little enthusiasm for the Democrats.
"We heard everything was going to change, but there hasn't been much change and the unemployment is still bad and the area we live in is still really depressed," said Mr. DeGasperis, who was laid off for 10 months last year from his job running an overhead crane at a Severstal Wheeling steel mill.
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He said he had not decided whom to back in the House, Senate and gubernatorial races - all key in Pennsylvania, a pivotal swing state. "I'm going to keep my options open."
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