A major union is taking credit for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s Democratic nomination.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) claimed its ground forces help Clinton clinch the nomination. Labor unions do have a substantial amount of political influence and the SEIU is one of the biggest. Clinton, however, didn’t mention the labor movement once since getting the nomination, including during her victory speech.
“I want to thank all the volunteers, community leaders, the activists and organizers who supported our campaign in every state and territory,” Clinton told a crowd Tuesday in New York. “Thanks for talking to your neighbors, for making contributions. Your efforts have produced a strong majority of the popular vote, victories and a majority of the contests.”
“SEIU member volunteers have come out by the thousands, starting in Iowa all the way through California and New Jersey, knocking doors, making calls and rallying to get out the vote for Hillary Clinton,” SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry said in a statement. “In state after state, they have said she is the only candidate for the job because she has the experience and track record.”
Henry listed immigration, gay activism and support for low-wage workers as a few critical reasons why people support Clinton. She has been able to win over the vast majority of national unions despite her primary rival Sen. Bernie Sanders making worker issues a cornerstone of his campaign.
The SEIU announced it endorsed Clinton Nov. 17. The union has since taken credit for various campaign victories including Super Tuesday wins in March. Clinton at the time mentioned unions only once in her victory speech when thanking the union plumbers and the United Auto Workers for helping during the Flint, Mich., water crisis.
Nevertheless, she has shown her appreciation for unions on occasion. She released a campaign video thanking unions for their support Jan. 26.
The Clinton campaign and the SEIU did not respond to request for comment by The Daily Caller News Foundation.
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