WHAT’S GOING ON, SEIU? The union definitely polled its members here in Washington, D.C. on Monday to ascertain their presidential pick. Ballots were handed out and deposited outside the auditorium doors. The buzz in the hall after the speeches was all Obama, although Edwards support ran deep.
So why didn’t SEIU announce the straw poll results? One obvious guess is that the executive board does not want its endorsement decision to be swayed by public knowledge of the possibly conflicting preference of rank-and-file members. The straw poll vote may have been very close. Perhaps no one candidate won a majority. And, to really go deep into the realm of speculation, perhaps members were so wowed by the afternoon’s star that they chose Barack Obama, despite the fact that in recent years, it is John Edwards who has made the most concerted effort to woo organized labor.
–Dana Goldstein
