Bernie Sanders picks up two big endorsements

Nicole Gaudiano | Burlington Free Press

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders’ bid for the Democratic presidential nomination scored two big endorsements Thursday, one from a major labor union and another from a progressive political action committee founded by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

The Vermont independent’s endorsement by the Communications Workers of America union, which represents 700,000 public and private sector workers, is one of his biggest endorsements to date. It follows a series of endorsements for Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton by 18 unions and labor alliances representing nearly 12 million people.

The Democracy for America PAC endorsed Sanders even after Dean asked the group's members to support Clinton.

Both Democracy for America and the Communications Workers of America could tap members for fundraising support and grassroots organizing. CWA has a super PAC that can make unlimited independent expenditures in support of Sanders or against other candidates.

“We will use whatever we need, with our own members and with working people across this country, to do every single thing we can to get Bernie Sanders elected to the presidency of the United States,” said CWA President Christopher Shelton.

Sanders reiterated that he opposes super PACs. But he drew a distinction between labor unions and wealthy donors contributing unlimited funds.

“This is what grassroots activism is about,” Sanders said. “Any comparison about working people knocking on doors as opposed to billionaires making a contribution I think would be a false (comparison).”

Both the union and Democracy for America endorsed Sanders after polling their members. Sanders, who also has been endorsed by National Nurses United and the American Postal Workers Union, said he likely would have had more national union support if other unions had polled their members.

Sanders earned Democracy for America's endorsement after receiving nearly 88 percent of 271,527 votes cast by members and other progressives nationwide over a nine-day voting period.

"Whether it’s in labor or whether it’s in the progressive community, when you actually go to the grassroots and ask people who they want to be the next president of the United States, people pretty clearly answer they want Bernie Sanders," said Jeff Weaver, Sanders' campaign manager. "Sometimes when organizations are sort of more Washington-centric, relying more on executive boards to make these kinds of (decisions), I think you’ll see that Secretary Clinton might do better in those circumstances."

Jesse Ferguson said Clinton is "humbled" by her union support.

“She shares their commitment to fighting for an economy that works for every single American, not just those at the top,” he said.

Each Democratic presidential candidate — Sanders, Clinton and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley — emailed Democracy for America members seeking their support. The organization says it was the first time all candidates in the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination race have openly competed for a grassroots progressive organization’s endorsement.

The Democracy for America PAC's endorsement of Sanders marks the first time the committee has endorsed in a presidential primary in its 11-year history. Earlier, the group helped lead a campaign to encourage progressive icon Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to run for president.

“Bernie Sanders is an unyielding populist progressive who decisively won Democracy for America members’ first presidential primary endorsement because of his lifelong commitment to taking on income inequality and the wealthy and powerful interests who are responsible for it,” said Charles Chamberlain, Democracy for America's executive director.

Dean, in an email to the group's members that accompanied Clinton's email, said he hoped they would choose Clinton. He did not respond to a request for an interview.

Chamberlain said Dean accepts that grassroots progressives won't always agree with him.

"Gov. Dean is his own individual and he has often gone against the wind in many different ways," Chamberlain said. "Usually, it’s against the establishment. But every once in a while, he makes a decision that isn’t 100% aligned with the grassroots."

To win Democracy for America's endorsement, a candidate needed a supermajority of at least 66.67% of all votes cast. The organization did not endorse in the 2008 election because no candidate cleared that threshold.

In this year’s vote, Clinton received 10.3%, O’Malley received 1.1% and "don’t endorse” received 0.8%.

The organization says its endorsement brings a 1-million member strong “grassroots army” that has knocked on hundreds of thousands of doors, made more than 11 million phone calls and raised and contributed more than $32.7 million to help elect 843 progressive candidates nationwide since 2004.

In announcing Thursday's endorsement to its members, it sought contributions of $3 or more to Sanders and Democracy for America by Saturday.

“With today’s endorsement, DFA members are joining Bernie’s ‘political revolution’ and working to take it both to the White House and up and down the ballot, in races coast to coast,” Chamberlain said.

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