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AFL-CIO Union Announces Results of Massive Election Push: Registered Nearly Half a Million New Voters

Oct. 4, 2012 4:42pm
AFL CIO Registers 450,000 New Voters

President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) Richard Trumka speaks to the audience at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 5, 2012 on the second day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Credit: AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON (AP) — The AFL-CIO says it has registered more than 450,000 new voters from union households over the past 18 months, part of an ambitious push to swell the ranks of Democratic-leaning voters and help President Barack Obama win reelection.

The tally includes about 68,000 new voters in Ohio – one of the most contested battleground states this year – and thousands of other union-friendly voters in swing states like Colorado and Nevada.

“That’s an amazing number,” said Paul Beck, a political science professor at Ohio State University. “In an era of declining union membership, one wouldn’t think there would be many new targets out there.”

Obama defeated Republican John McCain by a little more than 200,000 votes in Ohio in 2008 out of about 5 million votes cast in the state.

Voters from union households have traditionally favored Democratic candidates. That trend is expected to continue this year in light of high-profile efforts by Republican leaders to weaken collective bargaining rights in Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana and other states.

In 2008, exit polls showed 59 percent of voters who lived in union households backed Obama, while 39 percent supported McCain. Union household voters split similarly in the previous two presidential elections.

“This is the first time we’ve made this big an effort to increase registration,” said Mike Podhorzer, AFL-CIO political director. “We’re really proud that more union members are going to be engaged. Whoever they vote for, the fact is we’re increasing civic participation.”

Podhorzer said the plan began in March 2011, when the labor federation began matching lists of union household members with voter registration files from every state. It then identified about 2.3 million people living in households of active and retired union members who were not registered to vote.

Union leaders hoped to register at least 20 percent of that number. That would raise the estimated overall union household registration from 70 percent to 75 percent of eligible voters.

The task was easier in states like Ohio, where union density is highest. In Pennsylvania, for example, Podhorzer said the AFL-CIO registered 57,000 new voters from union households. But the federation also made gains in other swing states, registering 13,500 in Colorado, 10,000 in Nevada and 6,700 in Virginia.

Unions have been trying to maintain their relevance as major political players amid years of steady declines in membership. The voter registration drive could help labor leaders maximize their impact with the numbers they have.

Podhorzer said the project had already met the 75 percent goal as of early August, and he hopes to exceed it in the next four weeks. In the general population, about 65 percent of people 18 and older are registered to vote, according to Census Bureau figures.

Most of the registration work is being done by the federation’s 56 affiliated unions, which represent about 9 million workers with collective bargaining agreements.

Unions expect to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to help Obama and other mostly Democratic candidates for state and federal office win election. The AFL-CIO is devoting most of its attention to six battleground states: Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

“I think there is an enthusiasm among these voters, a feeling that unions are embattled these days,” said Beck, the political science professor. “Given what’s happened to unions since 2010, they may be more energized than normal to vote for a Democratic candidate.”

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Comments (82)

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  • taxpro4u03
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:41pm

    Hyper-inflated skewed numbers — like ‘polls,’ merely to dissuade… I’m ‘sure’ those laid off union members are grateful for the policies that shut down their ability to dig coal, generate some electricity, frak some gas and build cars (Gvt Motors is doing a fine job in CHINA) – It’s highly implausible that the workers affected in these battleground states are gonna hang with a fella who’s b.s. environmental policies eliminated their hi-dollar sources of income – how many aren’t Mac Donald’s material when their 99 weeks run out? What about when Trumpka et al LOOT their pensions (think Enron) and they’re left with nothing? I’m going with common sense on this one. HALF – probably more – will jump ship and go with Romney…. or stay home, which translates to an increase in popular vote percentage FOR Romney -

    Report this comment

    taxpro4u03  
  • Jaycen
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:40pm

    Just because you’re registered, doesn’t mean you’ll vote. It does mean a lot of potential voting fraud for Communists, but that’s not guaranteed either.

    Report this comment

    Jaycen  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on October 5, 2012 at 1:00am

      These people are all frauds. I’d be checking these names with a fine tooth comb, except the multiple Micky Mouse ones, those have to be factual.

      Report this comment

      Cemoto78  
  • Sonicviewlover
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:39pm

    Ok, fine, you registered a half million votes, great. Now for all of use we need to get our buts out there and counter this with 2 million new registered voters who are conservative. We can not allow this Marxist president back into office. I have worked my a$$ off and have been getting many to register. Get out there and make it happen. I want a slam dunk, no way they will take this election to the courts. Activate, “GET ERRRRER DUN” This is it folks, either we win this or we are doomed!!!!!!!!!

    Report this comment

    Sonicviewlover  
    • pissantno.10
      Posted on October 4, 2012 at 7:25pm

      mabey if you included all the households and there cockroches.whens the last time you heard a union spokesmen tell the truth i know a lot of union people and none of them are voting for obama.

      Report this comment

      pissantno.10  
  • Patriot Z
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:39pm

    nearly 500,000 new registed voters…and some actually are alive and exist. like the de ja vu strip club slogan “THOUSANDS OF BEAUTIFUL GIRLS….AND 3 UGLY ONES”

    Report this comment

    Patriot Z  
  • godlovinmom
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:34pm

    Forgive me if I’m wrong..isn’t it the unions job to fight for the rights of WORKERS…not voter’s registration…somebody better tell this guy he’s getting it all wrong.

    Report this comment

    godlovinmom  
  • fastfacts
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:20pm

    It’s true he asked us to go out and register, and me and my friends registered as Independents and Republicans. We will be there bright and early in the voting lines ready to vote for ROMNEY-RYAN 2012.

    UNION MEMBERS FOR ROMNEY-RYAN 2012, and there are a lot of us.

    Report this comment

    fastfacts  
    • Bum thrower
      Posted on October 4, 2012 at 6:01pm

      Wait a minute!!! doesn’t the union steward go in the booh with the member to show him/her/it how to vote?

      Report this comment

      Bum thrower  
    • Jackay
      Posted on October 4, 2012 at 6:07pm

      We weren’t newly registered by that blubber boy, Trumka but we are an IBEW union household. This union household will be voting Romney/Ryan. Stop the War on Coal-Fire Obama!!

      Report this comment

      Jackay  
    • Irememberamerica
      Posted on October 4, 2012 at 11:21pm

      There are many IBEW members that are voting Republican,
      along with the other trades.

      Most of the rank and file are not working.

      The suits and skirts in Washington are not the only ones
      they will be writing pink slips to, the rank and file are
      awake Trumka, and mostly unemployed!
      Bad combination for you suits.

      Romney will start the long awaited energy jobs this country
      needs, and keep the ones we do have open. Stop the over regulation
      and get America back to work!

      We are Americans, vote these buffoons out and get this country going again,
      we can fix this.

      Report this comment

      Irememberamerica  
  • bikerdogred1
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:18pm

    100,000×5=500,000 good boy trumka,you are a good comrade.Your prize is a big red star.

    Report this comment

    bikerdogred1  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:46pm

      “The AFL-CIO says it has registered more than 450,000 new voters from union households over the past 18 months…..”

      Yep, dead voters…..

      The motto in Chicago is… “never hold an election until after the votes are counted”.

      Report this comment

      The-Monk  
  • COFemale
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:15pm

    When they brag they did this, I would imagine they are either lying or they fabricated that many voters. I bet many are dead or illegals. I don’t trust the Union, much less DICK Trumped UP. One day if this man does not watch himself will become the next Jimmy Hoffa.

    Report this comment

    COFemale  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:11pm

    So how many of these ‘new voters’ are legal citizens; are alive and breathing; are not criminals behind bars; and are not multiple votes to be cast for Obama?

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • OutOfTheAether
      Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:17pm

      I’d bet half of them are Last Name for First, etc i.e. John Williams and William Johns – same guy, two names —- wait for it —— two votes!

      Report this comment

      OutOfTheAether  
  • Impenitent
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:11pm

    only 200,000 perople named “Mickey Mouse”

    Report this comment

    Impenitent  
  • ricckky
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:10pm

    These people are criminals–will we ever be able to prosecute these thieves.?

    Report this comment

    ricckky  
  • OniKaze
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:06pm

    How many of those “voters” are actually STILL alive and can physically vote??

    Remember dead people, and imaginary friends DON’T count…

    Report this comment

    OniKaze  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:05pm

    Too late. Obama is losing.

    Report this comment

    GoodStuff  
  • TheLeftMadeMeRight
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:04pm

    We must have voted id laws!

    Report this comment

     
  • pwatkins
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:02pm

    Now we know what all the zombie talk was about at Homeland Security, the voting dead.

    Report this comment

    pwatkins  
  • 762x51
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:54pm

    Ah the opportunity for voter fraud is infinite.

    Is it just me or is Trumpka just one of those guys who would look better with a .45 cal hole in his forehead?

    Report this comment

    762x51  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:53pm

    Which cemetery did they find these ones in?

    Report this comment

    RightUnite  
  • tonyleischen
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:51pm

    AFL-CIO, A F**king Loser – Communist In Obama

    Report this comment

    tonyleischen  
  • The_Jerk
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:50pm

    Michael Podhorzer was married to former Obama “Energy Czar” Carol Browner. Of course Mr. Podhorzer is another of Axelrod’s Jewish colleagues called to arms.

    Someday you will wake up.

    Report this comment

    The_Jerk  
  • GaltLine
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:50pm

    It’s these manufactured registrations that help Al Franken types steal elections.

    Report this comment

    GaltLine  
  • Vanguard17
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:49pm

    I wonder how many of them will rise from the grave to vote on the 6th only to be heard from again in 2016?

    Report this comment

    Vanguard17  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:48pm

    Uh, so how many of these “450,000 new voters” are actual living, breathing human beings?

    Report this comment

    Tri-ox  
  • kaydeebeau
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:48pm

    I wonder how many are still living or registered in multiple states????

    Report this comment

    kaydeebeau  
  • shimauma
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:46pm

    How much you wanna bet they are all illegal aliens?

    Report this comment

    shimauma  
  • Landon410
    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:44pm

    how many of these “new registered voters” are dead people or disney characters?

    Report this comment

    Landon410  
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