SEIU MEMBERS HELP CLOSE OUT NOMINATION FOR OBAMA IN OREGON

SEIU's 50,000 members in Oregon helped Barack Obama win big, giving him a majority of the pledged delegates in the nomination contest in addition to a majority of the superdelegates.

"Tonight, voters in Oregon have helped ensure that Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee for president, and in November, they're going to help him become our next president," said Anna Burger, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer. "Now that he has a majority of the pledged delegates, the time has come for Democrats to unite around his candidacy.  While we congratulate Senator Clinton for running a campaign that focused the country on the critical issues we face together, it is time for her to join the effort to send Barack Obama to the White House."

SEIU's Oregon members have:

• Made 150,000 phone calls.


• Knocked on 22,000 doors.


• Worked more than 500 volunteer shifts.


• Sent 200,000 pieces of mail.


• United with more than 30,000 workers in Change to Win and other unions to get out the vote.

The hard work by SEIU members in Oregon also resulted in victories for John Kroger for Attorney General and Sam Adams for mayor of Portland.  Voters are still watching the results come in for Jeff Merkley's campaign for U.S. Senate.

SEIU members in Kentucky, who helped turn out the vote among Change to Win union members, celebrated Bruce Lunsford's victory in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. 

"This election is too important for working families to allow McCain and his lobbyist advisers to continue Bush's failed policies," said Burger. "The choice is clear change or more of the same. A vote for Obama is a vote for health care for all, ending the war in Iraq and creating a new American Dream for everyone."