Hillary Sprints By Bernie With Another Big Union Endorsement

The Laborers’ International Union of North America announced Tuesday it’s endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over local favorite Bernie Sanders.

Clinton has struggled to gain union support throughout much of her campaign. Her primary rival Sanders was able to win over a lot of support early on, especially among local union chapters. When Biden announced Oct. 21, however, that he is not be running for president, the tides turned in favor of Clinton. Since that time, she has picked up significant momentum with the labor movement.

“Members and leadership believe that Secretary Clinton is the right leader to move our country forward and the most qualified candidate to address the many challenges facing the United States,” Laborers’ President Terry O’Sullivan’s statement says. “Members are deeply concerned about the direction of our country and are looking for a real leader who will create good jobs, rebuild our country, and grow our economy.”

At over a half-million members, the Laborers’ represents an assortment of blue-collar workers from across the country. It is not the biggest union endorsement Clinton was able to snag. Exactly a week before the Laborers’ endorsement, Clinton won support from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). SEIU is one of the largest unions in the entire country.

“Secretary Clinton’s record proves that she is a tough and tested fighter for our nation and for working men and women,” O’Sullivan continues. “[We’re] eager to work with Secretary Clinton, as the next President of the United States, to help enact legislation and promote policies that provide long-term investment in America’s roads and bridges, and encourage a real all-of-the-above approach to energy development.”

The union pledges to rally on the streets, knock on doors and make phone calls to encourage people to vote for Clinton. Unions are powerful political forces because of their ability to mobilize crowds. They also contribute heavily into political campaigns. As a result, the endorsement is a huge victory for Clinton.