AFT Endorses Lamont

This just in... According to a recent press release, AFT Connecticut, an arm of the AFL-CIO which is mainly a teachers' union, is endorsing Ned Lamont.

AFT Connecticut, the state’s second largest AFL-CIO union representing more than 26,000 professionals, including healthcare, higher education, and public employees, has endorsed Ned Lamont for U.S. Senate in Connecticut.

“This endorsement came down to the issues of education and healthcare and the draining of resources from our state in order to fund the war in Iraq,” said Sharon Palmer, president of AFT Connecticut. “Ned Lamont understands these issues and agrees with our positions.”

Joe Lieberman, of course, has support from some of the heads of organized labor in Connecticut, but this is a pretty decent endorsement. Connecticut AFT has been flirting with the Lamont campaign, as detailed in this article from last month:

Leo Canty, vice president of the American Federation of Teachers Connecticut chapter, echoes Dorman's complaint [about Joe Lieberman].

"When a significant issue comes up in the Senate, we don't have to worry about Chris Dodd being a strong supporter. There's quite a bit of doubt about Joe Lieberman," he says.

Yet Canty's union "opted not to make any endorsement" at its annual convention this month. Its delegate body will gather again in June and could reconsider then.

"There are a lot of individuals who are supporting Ned Lamont," he says. "But many people are waiting to see if he has traction." (Bass)

Apparently he has traction.

Interesting.

Sources

"AFT Connecticut Endorses Ned Lamont for U.S. Senate." AFT Connecticut. Press Release. 12 June, 2006.

Bass, Carole. "Lieberman, Lamont, Labor. Fairfield County Weekly 25 May, 2006.