Money Talks: Clinton Still the Union Favorite?
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York is headlining tonight's convention festivities with a much-anticipated speech that Democrats hope will unify the party.
The moment will be bittersweet for delegates of the American Federation of Teachers--the second largest teachers' union in the country that jumped out early in support of Clinton. But with Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois the presumptive nominee, the AFT has shifted its allegiance. Its leadership--including President Randi Weingarten, who spoke last night from the podium--is going full throttle in support of Obama. Will the union's rank-and-file members follow? We'll be asking that question tonight.
But at least for now, Clinton is still the favorite when you look at campaign donations. My Education Week colleague Vaishali Honawar, over at the Teacher Beat blog, details how Sen. Obama--despite enjoying the support of both teachers' unions--still hasn't caught up in donations from those unions, at least as of July 28, the end of that reporting cycle.
--Michele McNeil
