AFL-CIO Affiliate Kicks Off Final Phase of Massive Grassroots Campaign with Mailer to a Million Households Highlighting McCain’s Disastrous Economic Policies
(Washington, October 6) -- Working America – the AFL-CIO’s grassroots organization for workers without a union on the job – announced today a massive new effort to mobilize its 2.5 million members between now and Election Day, mostly in battleground states, in support of working family candidates.
The final push by Working America to engage independent and moderate blue-collar voters kicks off today with a new mailer going to 1 million households in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and other battleground states. The mailer highlights John McCain’s disastrous economic proposals and his support of deregulating the financial sector, which led to the Wall Street meltdown and $700 billion taxpayer bailout. “Republican John McCain: An Economic Disaster for the Middle Class,” the mailer reads.
The new effort, which is part of the AFL-CIO’s overall political effort in 2008, builds on Working America’s ongoing campaign to engage blue-collar workers on economic issues. Between now and Election Day, canvassers will reach more than 100,000 members per week at the door, focusing on where the candidates stand on the economic issues working family voters care about the most.
Working America fights 365 days a year to advance the economic interests of working families through issue education, legislative advocacy, and political mobilization. This year, the group’s membership will play a pivotal role in the presidential election. Many of the group’s members are the so-called “Reagan Democrat” and independent voters, in states like Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, who have been ravaged by the loss of traditional manufacturing jobs and the souring economy.
Among active Working America members:
- 84% make less than $60,000;
- 78% are white;
- 63% don’t have a college degree;
- 62% do not have a strong party affiliation;
- 61% are 40 years or older;
- 41% attend church at least weekly;
- 32% own guns.
“Make no mistake, this election hinges on economic concerns,” said Karen Nussbaum, Executive Director Working America. “Working America is reaching 100,000 people each week by appealing to their economic interests rather than their fears. Every day, we’re making sure our members in key battleground states know exactly what the stakes are in this election.”
The Working America effort relies heavily on person-to-person contact through home visits and phone calls to inform members on candidates’ positions on core economic issues like good jobs, health care and retirement security. The organization has grown dramatically since 2004, when it had 800,000 members nationwide. Since then, the group’s recruitment efforts have pushed the total membership to 2.5 million.
Working America’s electoral outreach program is part of the AFL-CIO’s largest grassroots mobilization in history. The AFL-CIO is currently mobilizing 13 million voters in 24 priority states in support of candidates who stand with working families. In addition to the presidential race, the AFL-CIO is engaged in 11 Senate races and more than 60 House races. All told, the AFL-CIO is engaged in 510 races nationwide, including state legislative elections.
For a PDF copy of the new mailer, please contact 202-637-5018.
The AFL-CIO launched Working America in late 2003 as a new affiliate for working people who do not have a union on the job. The organization now has 2.5 million members. Working America is the nation’s fastest-growing organization for working families. For more information, visit www.workingamerica.org/index.cfm.
Contact: Steve Smith 202-637-5018
