Kerry Praises Gephardt in Effort to Win Over Teamsters

By JODI WILGOREN

LAS VEGAS, May 16 - As Senator John Kerry courted one of the unions most skeptical about his presidential candidacy with promises to enforce the nation's trade agreements, the group's president, James P. Hoffa, offered a simple hint about how to win over his members: tap Representative Richard A. Gephardt as a running mate.

Mr. Hoffa, president of the Teamsters union, said he had made this suggestion several times, most recently at a private meeting with Mr. Kerry here on Sunday. Calling Mr. Gephardt, who was the Teamsters' first pick before his presidential hopes collapsed in Iowa, a "fine man" and a "great partner" for Mr. Kerry, Mr. Hoffa said the choice would help not only in Mr. Gephardt's home state, Missouri, but also in the critical battleground of Ohio.

Mr. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee, praised Mr. Gephardt not once but four times during his speech to some 1,000 Teamsters in a darkened hall at a convention center attached to the Bally's here.

"This particular leader is one of those who I think is one of the most decent, one of the most honest, one of the most committed and passionate advocates of the cause of neighbors, real citizens, people in the streets, people in the schools, people working hard to make a living in this country," Mr. Kerry said of Mr. Gephardt, who was in the audience and was one of at least three men being vetted as possible running mates. "He has never wavered, never not understood his mission."

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/17/politics/campaign/17kerry.html?pagewanted=print&position=

"courted"
"most skeptical about his presidential candidacy"

Yadayadayada... freeper crap article.

The unions have already committed support for Kerry, Jodi with an i!

And are likely to get Gephardt as Kerry's running mate.

is probably a really big thing for them. kerry is more in line with clinton when it comes to trade.although kerry has a good record on the environment and with labor so he is also more likely to put in tougher controls . but i think the fact that gephardt voted against nafta would make them feel better.

i know the firefighters are very good, particularly in the primary in going out and getting support for their candidate. not all unions are on the same level in terms of how much they can help and the effort they put out. do you know how good the teamsters are ?

Most Powerful damned union in the country...

They can get a lot of money to the Kerry campaign by driving through that big loophole in soft money contributions that MoveOn and other Democratic organizations have driven through to attack Bush.

They are a very rich organization, they are the most powerful union left in the country. Their membership is the most politically motivated, and most likely to organize large numbers of feet on the street to canvas for Kerry.

Teamsters represent workers in literally every type of job. and they are currently running the longest strike in American History in Michigan(Northern Michigan Hospital Nuursing Strike, which has bee3n running since November of 2002).

The Teamsters will destroy any possiblity of Bush winning that state, where Kerry has been way ahead in the polls until Bush's recent bus tour of the state where one rather suspect poll now puts Bush a few points ahead. (The Mitchell poll is a local and somewhat conservative leaning poll, but polls always effect public opinion to a degree) Which is why Kerry is courting the Teamsters. They can do much to deliver every state surrounding the great lakes, and no matter who the American public seems to want for popularity's sake, the Teamsters want Gephardt. Kerry will not get the Teamsters unless he makes Gephardt his running mate. Kerry NEEDS the Teamsters.

Gephardt on the ticket, yaaaaaaaaaaaawn! I really think he could have done more good by running for the Senate seat in Missouri.

Just healthy speculation.

would love that.