SEIU COMMUNICATIONS
Issued June 03, 2008
SEIU: THE GENERAL ELECTION BEGINS TONIGHT
"Now that the final primary votes have been cast, we congratulate Senator Clinton on waging a vigorous campaign that inspired working people across this country," said Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger. "Senator Clinton has been a strong friend of workers and we look forward to continuing to work with her in the Senate."
With the nominating process now complete and Senator Barack Obama the clear Democratic nominee, SEIU members are stepping up their political activity at every level. Ongoing activities include candidate evaluation and endorsements through locals and state councils, the training of thousands of members on political organizing, and a focus on the key races that will put a pro-worker majority in Congress in January.
"SEIU has already begun its most ambitious general election campaign in history," said Burger. "We are committed to working hard every day up to Election Day and then keeping the pressure on our leaders until we create a new American Dream for working people."
Renita Whicker, a security officer in Brooklyn Center, MN, and member of Local 26, is one of the thousands of members working to get out the vote in the general election. "I know it will take a lot of nights and weekends to talk to every member of my community about what's at stake in this election, but I have jumped in with both feet because I love my country too much to sit on the sidelines," said Whicker. "With families struggling to cope with record food and gas prices, people without access to health care and an endless war in Iraq, this is one of the most important elections of my life. We need leaders committed to real change that will make a difference for families like mine."
SEIU members have:
* Elected pro-worker candidates in each of the six congressional campaigns in which members have played an active role, including Donna Edwards, Bill Foster, Don Cazayoux, Travis Childers, Nikki Tsongas and Andr Carson.
* Spent the day with more than a dozen candidates for federal office, teaching them what it takes to work and raise a family in America through the Walk a Day in My Shoes program.
* Made millions of phone calls and knocked on hundreds of thousands of doors on behalf of Obama and other candidates across the country.
* Registered thousands of new voters through Obama's "Vote for Change" program co-chaired by Anna Burger.
* Sent "Dear John" letters to McCain with their suggestions for ways to turn around the failing economy.
* Released a detailed plan showing how McCain's health care plan makes a bad problem worse.
* Appeared in a $2 million ad campaign in Ohio, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. focused on McCain's terrible record on health care.
* Participated in the "Road to American Health Care," a national bus tour aimed at mobilizing voters around the need for comprehensive health care reform within the first 100 days of the next administration.
* Won important races for Senate, Governor, Attorney General, Mayor and other races in states like North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky and Oregon.
* Announced a tough political accountability plan as part of SEIU's 'Justice for All' plan to build the new American Dream.
Tomorrow, Wednesday June 4, at 10:50 a.m. EST, Senator Obama will address more than 4,000 SEIU members, leaders, and guests at the 2008 SEIU Convention in Puerto Rico by live satellite feed.
Visit www.seiu2008.org to watch the address.
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Updated Jul 15, 2015