Top unions left in a bind by Gephardt's departure

By David Postman
Seattle Times chief political reporter

	BETTY UDESEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES Local Machinists were set to work for Dick Gephardt in Washington after his visit earlier this month.
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Some of the state's largest and most politically active unions may be forced to watch Washington's Democratic presidential caucus from the sidelines as they regroup from their candidate's implosion in Iowa.

Machinists, Teamsters, laborers and other industrial unions were left without a candidate in the race when Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., quit after a fourth-place finish in the Iowa Democratic caucus.

Nationally, the coalition of unions that endorsed Gephardt appears unlikely to make a new endorsement any time soon. Individual unions could move faster.

The country's labor unions largely split between Gephardt and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who dropped to third place; Gephardt with the industrial unions and Dean the service sector. Those candidates' poor showings Monday call into question the long-held belief that a union's organizational skills and large roster of members can make the difference in a presidential caucus.

Unions may worry about picking a new candidate who doesn't survive the next round.

Unionized workers Union representation is much higher in Washington than in Iowa, site of Monday's Democratic caucuses. Percent of employees represented by a union Iowa 14.4 % Washington 20.9 % Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

"I think this essentially allows people the opportunity to take a pass until things shake out," said Paul Berendt, chairman of the state Democratic Party and a Dean supporter.

But the remaining candidates apparently still believe in the power of the unions.

"There's a mad scramble going on to solicit their support," said Berendt, who is still a believer in union organizing power. "In a precinct caucus state, any organization that has a large membership that can mobilize any portion of that can have a big impact."

National officials of the campaigns of Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina, who finished first and second in Iowa, have already called local officials of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said the group's political director, Linda Lanham.

Washington Democratic caucus When: Saturday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. Where: At more than 5,000 locations throughout the state. What happens: At 10:30 a.m., participants declare their preference for a presidential candidate or can be uncommitted. Delegates will be apportioned based on the support each candidate receives. How to participate: Any registered voter may attend. To find out where your caucus will be held, you need to know your voting precinct number, which is on your voter-registration card. Or find out by calling your county auditor, or go the state Democratic Party Web site: www.wa-democrats.org

She hadn't heard from Dean's campaign.

With Washington's caucus set for Feb. 7, much of the state's union political machinery may sit idle through one of the most highly contested nominating fights in years.

"I think it would be premature to immediately switch over to somebody else and say this is our new guy," said Teamsters International Vice President Garnet Zimmerman.

He said that when Teamsters were polled about which candidate they preferred before the Gephardt endorsement, Gephardt was first in a "fairly close rivalry with Edwards."

Local Machinists had not formally endorsed Gephardt, though the international union did, and Lanham said her members would have organized to help him in the Washington caucus.

Dean finished second in the initial polling of local Machinists, she said.

"But I don't know if Iowa changed their minds or if they're taking a look at other candidates," Lanham said.

To find out, she wants to poll again.

Lanham personally hopes the union does make an endorsement in time to play a role in the Washington caucus.

	RALPH RADFORD / AP Howard Dean addresses a campaign rally with Service Employees International Union in Seattle last October. Dean received SEIU's endorsement.

The labor split between Gephardt and Dean was a major story last fall. The division meant there was no consensus for the AFL-CIO to make an endorsement and it set up a face-off between the industrial and service unions.

In November, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees endorsed Dean.

In Washington state, the SEIU is a fast-growing union with nearly 60,000 members, including newly unionized home health-care workers, and a penchant for high-profile political activity.

Helping Dean win the Washington caucus is a major effort for the union. A dozen union members on leave from their jobs and being paid by SEIU, along with about six professional organizers hired to help, are working toward the union's goal of turning out 1,000 members for the caucus, said spokesman Adam Glickman.

That gives the SEIU more paid staff working on the caucus than the Dean campaign itself.

The union will hold 20 to 25 training sessions around the state to prepare members for the caucus.

"A lot of our members have never been to a caucus before," he said.

Kerry had a more difficult time finding union support than did Dean and Gephardt. But he did win the backing of the International Association of Fire Fighters, which has shown itself to be adept at political organizing.

"What we learned from Iowa is that they were a strong force for Kerry, and a strong force here for Gore in 2000," Berendt said. He said that of the past three presidential caucuses he attended in Washington, firefighters were at two of them.

The Washington State Council of Firefighters represents about 6,500 members statewide. Union president Kelly Fox said members will get caucus training at a session in Olympia next week.

Kerry's win in Iowa has boosted enthusiasm among firefighters who were worried about the senator's campaign.

"Everybody kept hearing and reading about this stale Kerry campaign," Fox said. "We all had significant concerns about that."

But now, he said, members are energized by Kerry's win and the first seriously contested caucus since 1992.

David Postman: 360-943-9882 or dpostman@seattletimes.com

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