nti-War Unions Split
Bucking Lieberman, Backing Ms. Clinton
By HOWARD MEGDAL
While Connecticut's Teachers' unions have endorsed the anti-war candidacy of Ned Lamont in his challenge of Democratic United States Senator Joseph P. Lieberman, no unions have yet followed suit on behalf of labor organizer Jonathan Tasini in his quixotic run against New York's Hillary Clinton.
HILLARY CLINTON: Foe has little chance.
A spokeswoman for Mr. Lamont said that like the Connecticut Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers of Connecticut, many New Yorkers were instead heading to the Nutmeg State to support his candidacy.
Lieberman Feels Heat
Mr. Lamont has gotten enough traction that Senator Lieberman announced last week that he will begin collecting signatures in order to gain ballot access as an independent.
The move would guarantee Mr. Lieberman's presence in the general election, regardless of the Democratic primary results Aug. 8. The Senator received the endorsement of the Connecticut AFL-CIO at last month's convention, though there was considerable support for Mr. Lamont during the voice-vote.
"We're very happy to have the individual unionists come and help us," Mr. Lamont's spokeswoman, Liz Dupont-Diehl, said in a July 6 phone interview. "We're going to have an even greater push for out-of-state volunteers at the end of the month."
Photo by Allyson Dufour
JONATHAN TASINI: Not making inroads yet.
Mr. Tasini, the former head of the National Writers' Union who trails Ms. Clinton badly in opinion polls, said he has been in contact with a number of labor leaders but has yet to get an endorsement.
'Unions Fear Incumbents'
"I'll be very up front - I don't expect to get major union endorsements," Mr. Tasini said in a July 5 phone interview. "Even though I am 100 percent better on labor issues, there is a fear to confronting the incumbent. I expect them to be cautious."
Communications Workers of America Local 1180's Vice President Bill Henning said he will vote for Mr. Tasini, but expects his union to endorse Ms. Clinton next month.
"I would be very surprised if 1180 adopted my position," Mr. Henning said in a July 7 phone interview. "Organized labor tends towards the pragmatic. But [voting for Mr. Tasini] is a strongly felt personal position. We can't allow Republican-lites to take over the political discourse."
Ms. Clinton received the endorsement of New York's largest education union, New York State United Teachers, in May, along with the backing of many others. But Mr. Tasini doesn't see such endorsements keeping him from reaching union members dissatisfied with the incumbent.
"Many union leaders have privately come up to me and said, 'Thank God you're doing this,''' he said. "Of course, what they say privately won't necessarily [result in] an endorsement. But I want them to give me access to rank-and-file members."
Making His Case
As part of that effort, Mr. Tasini spoke to members of District Council 1707 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees last month, and plans are in the works for him to speak before District Council 37's Local 371.
He believes that his fierce opposition to the conflict in Iraq, in contrast with Ms. Clinton's vote four years ago authorizing President Bush to go to war, will play well with union voters for additional reasons.
"The war resonates everywhere," Mr. Tasini said. "There are the moral questions raised by killing people, but there are also economic questions. This war is going to cost $2 trillion; that's money that isn't spent on health care and other concerns."
He called his opposition to the war "a thread between our campaigns," referring to Mr. Lamont. "There is deep, deep anger. The war is a reflection of other things that have gone on. This anger spreads into economic issues."
'Time Has Come'
Mr. Henning said, "Especially in the case of Lieberman, this is a guy whose time has come. He has embraced positions that are indistinguishable from the Bush administration - and not just on the war. There ought to be a price to pay."
Mr. Tasini has endorsed Mr. Lamont, but Mr. Lamont's spokeswoman said he has no plans to endorse Mr. Tasini unless he defeats Ms. Clinton in the Sept. 12 Democratic primary. The wealthy Mr. Lamont has pumped over a million dollars into his campaign as he has risen in the polls. A Quinnipiac survey last month showed him closing to within 15 points of Mr. Lieberman among likely Democratic voters.
Mr. Tasini said that as of now, his campaign cannot afford polls. He had $25,565 on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission's latest disclosure report in April. Ms. Clinton had $19,703,421.
