The Michigan AFL-CIO on Friday endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero, igniting a battle for union endorsements in the race.
The state AFL-CIO represents over 600,000 active and retired members in 59 unions throughout Michigan, including the United Auto Workers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
"This is a lot of people. It means boots on the ground, volunteers, positive word of mouth. Votes, ultimately," Bernero told The Associated Press. "It adds greatly to our momentum."
Michigan AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney planned to discuss the endorsement with reporters in a Friday afternoon conference call.
The union confederation made its endorsement a day after the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents nearly 100,000 workers statewide, endorsed Democratic House Speaker Andy Dillon, Bernero's main rival in the race.
In backing Dillon, the trades council praised him for having "the right plan for a better economy and the ability to make it happen." They have been especially pleased by his support for building new coal-fired power plants, which they say will create jobs.
Dillon said his endorsement showed that "the Trades Council and I share the same goals of getting our economy moving again and helping workers earn a good paycheck."
Bernero, currently serving his second term as Lansing mayor, said his endorsement sent a clear signal that he was "the candidate for working people."
Unions aren't as big a force in Michigan elections as they have been in the past, in part because their membership and ability to donate money has declined.
Nevertheless, the AFL-CIO endorsement will give the little-known Bernero a huge statewide network through which he can increase his name recognition, raise money and collect the 15,000 signatures he needs to get on the ballot, said Democratic consultant Chris De Witt.
"It just adds an instant level to credibility for him," said De Witt, who was the spokesman for Lt. Gov. John Cherry until Cherry unexpectedly dropped out of the Democratic gubernatorial race. The AFL-CIO has "always had a very strong member-to-member program. ... Those endorsements do deliver votes."
Some major unions in the state remain on the sidelines, including the Michigan Education Association and the Teamsters. They haven't indicated yet which candidate among the three Democrats and five Republicans in the race they will support.
State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith is the third person in the Democratic race. Republican candidates are U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, former Gateway CEO Rick Snyder, Attorney General Mike Cox, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard and state Sen. Tom George.
Former Genesee County Treasurer Dan Kildee dropped out of the Democratic race last Friday because he said it had become clear that he wouldn't be able to unite the unions and progressive groups behind his candidacy, which he said was necessary to beat Dillon.
Bernero is the son of a former General Motors Co. worker and was a staunch advocate for autoworkers during the 2008 national debate over whether GM and Chrysler should get federal loans to keep them afloat.
