NJ: Obama wows union faithful in N.J. visit
May 24, 2007
Union members in Trenton got their first look this month at rookie sensation Barack Obama. They liked what they saw. Obama liked what he heard.
On May 14, in a 12-minute speech and a 90-minute question-and-answer session from AFL-CIO members, Obama demonstrated he is a solid .300 hitter in the game of presidential hardball.
More than 600 Democratic-friendly members gave the U.S. senator from Illinois two standing ovations and frequent outbursts of applause.
While you can't put applause in the bank, Obama hopes the claps will translate into votes in New Jersey's Feb. 5 presidential primary.
A Quinnipiac University poll from last month put his chief rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, ahead by 22 points. Both trail Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor.
Obama demonstrated his passion as he repeatedly identified himself with workers seeking bargaining agreements around the country.
"As long as the AFL-CIO is ready to walk with me, I'm ready to walk right beside it," Obama enthused.
He never stammered as he confidently expounded his two main themes - universal health care and an end to the war in Iraq.
"It never should have been authorized," Obama said. "The $175 million spent every day in Iraq could be used for teachers' salaries," he said in a nod to the teachers unions.
Obama also garnered cheers from the audience when he predicted, "By the end of my first term, we will have health care for everyone in America.
"This is an issue whose time has come," he said. "It actually came a long time ago, but Washington doesn't seem to know it."
Obama came to Trenton with personal endorsements from Mayors Jerramiah Healy of Jersey City and Cory Booker of Newark. But Gov. Jon Corzine has backed Clinton, while state Senate President Richard J. Codey is supporting former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
The national AFL-CIO Executive Board won't make an endorsement recommendation for six months, but its strategy is to encourage its 13.6 million members across 54 unions to help restore the White House to the Democrats.
Later, one Communications Worker of America official remarked: "I liked some things. He is a little young. At least he's a thorn in the side of Hillary."
Still, a Clinton-Obama ticket could prove to be a political marriage made in heaven - or at least the voting booth.