In a surprising move, the IAFF has endorsed Chris Dodd for President. Word of the endorsement was rumored a couple of days ago, it’s official now as The Hill reports:

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) President Harold Schaitberger told The Hill Monday that Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) has won the union’s coveted endorsement.

In an exclusive interview with The Hill, Schaitberger said Dodd was the candidate who had “earned their support,” and that his long legislative record on labor’s behalf was the key to winning the endorsement.

Schaitberger declined to comment on why other candidates, particularly those considered to be frontrunners, came up short. He said the Democratic field was strong but added that Dodd separated himself from the others by going beyond support for their legislative agenda and being “the guy who really carries our water” dating back to 1976.

Schaitberger and other union officials will accompany Dodd on an announcement tour beginning with a Washington press conference Wednesday after the executive council officially votes for the endorsement. That will be followed by a whirlwind three-state announcement tour of Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada leading into Labor Day weekend.

I have to say as someone who was involved with the Kerry campaign very early on, I know how hard these guys worked to boost Kerry’s campaign and I met many dedicated and committed IAFF members both in NH during Primary Week and here in Southern California. I also spoke with IAFF President Harold Schaitberger in NH at Kerry Headquarters back in ‘04. I can’t see this playing as anything but positive for Chris Dodd and as The Hill notes, the IAFF “will also be looking to expand its efforts into the fundraising arena, trying to help Dodd compete with the boatloads of money Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) are pulling in.” Looks like the game has changed a little now…

Schaitberger said that the IAFF endorsement has become “significant enough” that the candidate who wins it also wins a second look from donors who might have already given to other candidates or were keeping their powder dry.

When asked what the IAFF would do if Dodd does not last past the first contest in Iowa, Schaitberger’s reply was typical to anyone who knows him or spoke with him during Kerry’s dark days of 2003.

“We’re in it to win,” he said, adding that fire fighters love a challenge, “particularly when people say it can’t be done. That’s when we’re at our best.”

Senator Dodd has been a “longtime ally of fire fighters on their issues,” as John Kerry had been, “particularly the 2000 FIRE Act. ”

But IAFF officials said other factors like Dodd’s experience and vision on the Iraq War led them to his corner.

One official added that Dodd is the candidate who can most appeal to general election voters on crucial issues of national security.

The IAFF is a 280,000-member union. Many of the union members I had met in NH back in ‘04 during Primary Week had taken months off the job to volunteer for Kerry. Again I think this will play huge for Dodd.

The Swamp reports:

For Dodd, the endorsement was gratifying because it comes at the end of a summer when he’s spent day after day stumping in Iowa, New Hampshire and other key states but continues to lag far back in most polls.

“I feel great,” he said today. “We’ve now got a good, small army who’s going to be helping us in these states.”

Dodd had appeared at a March IAFF forum along with other candidates from both parties who are seeking the nomination. He got six standing ovations and Schaiyberger declared, “In Dodd We Trust.”

Congrats to Chris Dodd!

Filed under: Democrats, Election '08, Elections, In The News, John Kerry, Politics | Get Permalink or trackback |