More on the IAFF endorsement of Dodd...
In a comment posted by Bill Jenkins, he suggested that since unions no longer carry as much weight as they once did, the fire fighters endorsement of CT Sen. Chris Dodd isn't really that significant.
I would agree with him that unions don't carry as much clout, especially in general elections, but wold disagree with him regarding the significance of this for the Dodd campaign - especially in terms of the early caucus and primary votes in Iowa and New Hampshire.
The Iowa caucuses are a very strange process that depends soley on organization and the ability to get out the vote. Supporters of any candidate need to produce at least 15 percent of the turnout for a candidate to get any credit when it comes time to tally up the votes. If the fire fighters in Iowa, seasoned and very well experienced in how that system works, puts its efforts out to turn out the votes for Dodd, the senator stands a much better chance of doing well than he would without that support.
The same goes for the New Hampshire primary. The fire fighters unions in the Granite State know very well what it takes to win there. If those unions put their efforts behind Dodd, turning out the vote on primary day, the senator's chances improve greatly.
For a second tier candidate, this kind of support is not only significant - it's critical.
I would agree with him that unions don't carry as much clout, especially in general elections, but wold disagree with him regarding the significance of this for the Dodd campaign - especially in terms of the early caucus and primary votes in Iowa and New Hampshire.
The Iowa caucuses are a very strange process that depends soley on organization and the ability to get out the vote. Supporters of any candidate need to produce at least 15 percent of the turnout for a candidate to get any credit when it comes time to tally up the votes. If the fire fighters in Iowa, seasoned and very well experienced in how that system works, puts its efforts out to turn out the votes for Dodd, the senator stands a much better chance of doing well than he would without that support.
The same goes for the New Hampshire primary. The fire fighters unions in the Granite State know very well what it takes to win there. If those unions put their efforts behind Dodd, turning out the vote on primary day, the senator's chances improve greatly.
For a second tier candidate, this kind of support is not only significant - it's critical.
posted by Ray Hackett at 12:05 PM
3 Comments:
My buddy Jenkins is right in that Dodd is still going to lose and lose badly.
I still don't think a union endorsement means much. Most union members aren't that actively politically these days and those that are active take pride in thinking for themselves and not what their leadership tells them to do.
"I vote the person, not the party or what anyone tells me to do." is the battle cry of the average voter in the 21st century, union members are no exception.
Dodd will get some of their money but what good will it do? They punted. They didn't want to endorse one of the real candidates for whatever reason.
Dodd is going to lose no matter what. He is not even in the race for VP.
If Hillary is smart she will pick someone that gets her a state she can't get on her own. CT is no such state.
I was thinking about him yesterday and I remembered not so fondly how he opposed the Contra Freedom Fighters in Nicaragua – and supported the Communist Sandinistas. And this guy wants to be President?
Can you believe I spelled Nicaragua right on the first try?
Wow.
Dodd has no business being in the Senate much less the White House. I will take Hillary over him anytime.
Luckily we won’t have to settle for either of them.
Not when we got Rudy! :)
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