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AFL-CIO to spend $40 million on elections

By Mark Preston
CNN Washington Bureau

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The AFL-CIO announced Wednesday it will spend $40 million on get-out-the-vote operations for the midterm elections in an effort to try to drive congressional Republicans from power as well as win governorships in 21 states across the country.

"We will play the largest role we've ever played in electing the candidates we've endorsed in many of the pivotal, competitive races for the House and Senate," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said at a pre-Labor Day news conference detailing the federation's election year program.

Sweeney said most of the money will be spent on helping to mobilize union voters, not to directly make contributions to Democratic candidates.

AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman said the organization is focusing on mobilizing "more than 12.4 million voters in 21 top-tier states." In addition to the 21 gubernatorial contests, the AFL-CIO also said it is "actively engaged" in 50 House races and 15 Senate contests.

Ackerman suggested that the federation of 53 unions will play a particularly important role in the traditional union strongholds of Ohio and Pennsylvania, where voters will cast ballots for governor, senator and House members in November.

Democrats need a net gain of 15 seats in the House and six seats in the Senate to wrest control of each chamber from Republican hands.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will host its pre-Labor Day news briefing on Thursday, when immigration reform, pension legislation and an overview of the economy will be discussed.

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