AFL-CIO backs Dayton
The AFL-CIO, a coalition of some of the state's largest labor unions, is backing Democrat Mark Dayton's bid for governor. The union's board met this morning to put the final touches on the endorsement.
The endorsement doesn't come as a surprise since Dayton is the DFL nominee for governor but it does show that labor is uniting quickly behind Dayton's bid. Unions were fractured in their support of Dayton and Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the DFL endorsed candidate for governor. Education Minnesota, the Carpenters and MAPE all announced last week that they're backing Dayton.
"I am honored and grateful to have the support of the 300,000 hard working men and women of the Minnesota AFL-CIO," Dayton said in a news release. "I have always stood with working women and men, and will continue to stand with them if I am elected Governor. Getting Minnesotans back to work will be a top priority of my administration."
Dayton has scheduled a 1:30 pm news conference that the campaign is calling "important." A campaign spokeswoman was mum but it could be the AFL-CIO announcement.
Dayton is also going to get some help from the AFL-CIO's national president. Richard Trumka will hold an early morning event on Thursday to signal his support for Dayton's candidacy.
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