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Top unions back Obama
16/02/2008 11:26 - (SA)
Washington - White House hopeful Senator Barack Obama secured valuable union backing on Friday as he sought to keep up his winning streak against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin.
Obama arrived in the Midwestern state ahead of Tuesday's primaries hoping to ride a wave of momentum after eight consecutive victories in nomination contests across the country, handing him a slight lead in delegates over Clinton, who has been forced to shake up her campaign team.
Obama was buoyed on Friday with a key endorsement from the 1.9-million strong Service Employees International Union (SEIU), known for its political activism and deep pockets. The endorsement came a day after the 1.3 million-member United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) came out for Obama.
A new poll gave the Illinois senator a four-point lead in Wisconsin, which has 74 delegates at stake. His home-state of Hawaii, which has 20 delegates, is also voting on Tuesday.
Clinton, lagging behind in fundraising, is counting on delegate-rich Ohio and Texas on March 4 to halt Obama's surge.
Both Democratic candidates are battling for the workers' vote and offering up populist themes, vowing to reverse President George W Bush's tax cuts for the rich and raise the minimum wage.
In the Republican race, the Wisconsin contest could bring front-runner John McCain one step closer to the 1 191 delegates he needs to secure the party's presidential nomination.
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