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April 02, 2008

Oregon AFL-CIO reaffirms support for Merkley

AFL-CIO endorses 37 Democrats for May primary

Oregon's AFL-CIO office has endorsed 37 candidates for their commitments to "working families."

Among its highest-profile endorsements, the group backs Rep. Jeff Merkley, D-Portland, for the U.S. Senate race over Steve Novick, and John Kroger over Rep. Greg MacPherson, D-Lake Oswego, in the Oregon Attorney General's race. State Sen. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, earned the group's endorsement for the Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore.

...

"Each of these candidates has a record of advocacy for working families in Oregon," said Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain in a statement. "Their commitment to creating a more prosperous Oregon -- from the creation of more living-wage jobs to protecting pensions and making health care more accessible and affordable to everyone -- will have an enduring impact on our state, its workers and our economy."

Tom Chamberlain leaves no doubt as to why the Oregon AFL-CIO endorses each of these candidates, including Merkley. But the backstory is interesting too.

Steve Novick and Jeff Merkley both formally addressed the Oregon AFL-CIO prior to the endorsements and Novick trotted out his HR2 smear against Merkley.

It seems exceptionally likely that Novick's vicious political smear pissed off more than a few members of the Oregon AFL-CIO.

Posted by Kevin at April 2, 2008 12:41 PM