(Thanks to Matt, Chris and Mike for giving me the opportunity to post this video and text up on Open Left. Relevant disclaim: I proudly work for Chris Dodd's Presidential campaign -- Tim)
You might not have thought it was possible after reading the first reports following the IAFF Presidential Forum.
"Clinton, Obama address IAFF forum," barked the headline at MSNBC's "First Read." The AP story finally got around to mentioning Senator Dodd in the 18th of 25 paragraphs.
But it was Chris Dodd who stole the show at the forum, much like he has throughout the campaign with his bold leadership on Iraq, his defense of the Constitution, and calling for a Corporate Carbon Tax.
Some choose to back the candidates they think are in the lead -- the fire fighters selected the candidate they know has the vision to lead.
Today, the 280,000 person organization of professional fire fighters and paramedics has officially endorsed it's candidate in the 2008 Democratic Primary:
How this changes the race
It's not just what the fire fighters stand for, or the awesome gold and yellow shirts ... it's the organizational skills they bring to the table.
Schaitberger said firefighters play an integral role in communities across the country and, perhaps more significantly, understand the caucus process in Iowa "better than all the highly paid Washington types."
As the only union to endorse John Kerry in those heady fall days, you only have to look back to 2004 to see the IAFF has proven they know how to help a candidate win in Iowa and New Hampshire.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "A nearly secret weapon Kerry had in Iowa was the organizing work of the 263,000-member firefighters union, which is about 2,400 strong in Iowa…Because they work 24-hour shifts, two-thirds of the union members are off work at any given time, meaning that 1,600 could go to caucuses Monday, and each was asked to bring five people in a 'carload for Kerry.'" [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/23/04]
Remember, John Kerry was down over 30 points in New Hampshire as late as November 2003.
Why Dodd?
Chris Dodd authored the Family and Medical Leave Act ... finally passing the bill into law after two Presidents, and two vetoes.
Chris Dodd wrote the FIRE and SAFER Acts that made sure equipment and training our first responders need was geting down to the fire stations in neighborhoods across the country BEFORE September 11th.
Chris Dodd isn't waiting until he gets elected to lead on Iraq, the Constitution, and middle class issues like the sub-prime mortgage crisis ... he is doing is NOW.
What's next
The official endorsement happens today at 11 A.M., and then the campaign hits the road to share the good news in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.
We'll have on-going coverage over at the campaign website, going live from the road as often as possible.
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