Organized labor invested heavily in beating Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas – $10 million. Barack Obama and Bill Clinton both endorsed Lincoln while the unions backed Bill Halter.
Lincoln relied heavily both on Obama's endorsement, which she advertised relentlessly on radio and in the mail, and on the backing of former President Bill Clinton, who backed her to the hilt.
Lincoln foe Bill Halter had the unstinting support of the AFL-CIO, SEIU, AFSCME and other major unions. And labor officials Tuesday evening were already working to spin the narrow loss of their candidate, Bill Halter, as a moral victory, but the cost in money and in the goodwill of the White House may be a steep price to pay for a near miss.
In what alternate universe, I wonder, would we expect unions to pay any price for opposing the Obama candidate in a primary? Whatever. The real question will be answered in November. Are we seeing pro-Obama or anti-union motivation in this outcome?
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