Chris Dodd's campaign is set this week to announce a quite major labor endorsement: the International Association of Firefighters, according to a source familiar with the plans.
The endorsement comes as something as a surprise. Labor insiders had expected the union, one of labor's big endorsements, to go with one of the front-runners.
But the Connecticut senator is an old ally, and authored what's probably the most important piece of legislation in a decade for the IAFF: The 2000 FIRE Act, which channels federal money to local fire departments.
The only union endorsement Kerry won before Iowa in 2003 was the IAFF. They have an impressive political operation that could certainly help Dodd receive some long-awaited traction. However, the endorsement of the international does not necessarily mean the endorsement of the Iowa locals:
Because Iowa labor does not always follow the lead of its national representatives when it comes to supporting candidates, Iowa Independent interviewed Wayne Sawtelle, political director of the IAFF's Iowa organization.
Asked if the Iowa firefighters would follow their national organization's endorsement and support Dodd in the caucuses, Sawtelle said, "I haven't heard."
"We typically have followed what the international's lead is," he continued. "We do have a meeting later this week...I'm guessing that might be a topic of discussion then."
