The Deciding Vote 2008: America's Workers Ready to Vote for Obama

American Dream Frames Economic Agenda for Working Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 25, 2008

CONTACT: Noreen Nielsen
603-858-2607

DENVER, CO. – Barack Obama can capture the votes of America’s workers, including so-called Reagan Democrats, with a strong message of economic populism and sharp contrasts with McCain on taxes, health care, trade and corporate power according to a new survey conducted by Lake Research Partners and released today at a news briefing at the 2008 Democratic National Convention by Change to Win.

“The American Dream defines both a value system and a broad economic reform agenda focused on jobs with wages that can support families, affordable health care, retirement security and opportunity for a better future,” said pollster Celinda Lake. “Workers see the Dream at risk and want government action to create a new infrastructure for a new American Dream. They want a candidate who is not controlled by big corporations, and who will support progressive taxes, limits on corporate power, worker rights and proactive government.”

Reagan Democrats, the key swing vote since 1980, have moved overwhelmingly to Obama. The American Dream is the cornerstone of their support with strong majorities seeing Obama as best representing the American Dream values and vision.

Overall, workers are abandoning the conservative view that government is the problem, and now are demanding government reform and believe government must be part of the solution. They believe Obama understands their struggles; and has a better vision for restoring the American Dream, and is more likely to improve wages and working conditions.

Among white workers, Obama and McCain are in a tight battle, but on core economic issues and values, Obama maintains a significant advantage. Senator Obama can win their votes with a clear message of economic recovery and renewal of the American Dream.

Health care costs continue to lead among workers economic worries, and government action to guarantee affordable health care is at the center of a working family economic recovery plan. Workers also want a tax system where the rich pay their fair share, government action to make sure employers keep their promises to workers, and a retirement system that provides economic security. Workers see unions as the means to achieve the American Dream, and support legislation that would make it easier for workers to join unions.

Economic Policy Institute president Lawrence Mishel detailed the underlying economic trends that are threatening the American Dream, stressing that the job market is not generating future jobs with good wages and benefits.

“Wages have not kept pace with economic growth, increased productivity and skyrocketing executive compensation. The decline in health care and pension coverage has left workers without basic economic security,” said Mishel.

Low levels of unionization have created a power imbalance leaving workers with less bargaining power and employers with more power to impose lower wages and benefit reductions. The industries of the new American economy, such as retail, hospitality, building services, health care, construction and transportation, will generate over 50 million jobs by 2016. Jobs in these industries have lower wages, benefits and unionization levels that put the American Dream at risk for the next generation of workers.

“The fear and outrage over the loss of the American Dream rises directly from long term economic trends that are robbing Americans of their wages, their health care, and their pensions,” said Change to Win chair Anna Burger. “We must build a new infrastructure for a new American Dream and that infrastructure begins with the rights of workers. Empowered workers will create the new American Dream for the 21st century.”

Burger also outlined Change to Win’s 2008 political program to educate and mobilize millions of working men and women to push Barack Obama to victory in the November election.

“The seven unions of Change to Win will spend tens of millions of dollars and commit thousands of volunteer hours to contact members at their worksites and in their communities every day between now and November 4th to make sure Barack Obama is elected president and pro-worker majorities are put in the United States Congress. With a comprehensive mail, phone and canvass effort in thirteen battleground states, including a full-time, coordinated member-to-member canvass with 1,500 member canvassers, more than 10 million pieces of direct mail and 20 million phone calls, the unions of Change to Win will make sure America’s workers are the deciding vote in 2008.”

** Note: Media representatives interested in scheduling an interview with Celinda Lake, Lawrence Mishel or any of the Change to Win union leaders to discuss the American Dream poll and economic findings should contact Noreen Nielsen at Noreen.nielsen@changetowin.org. For more information on Change to Win’s American Dream Survey Series, visit www.changetowin.org/americandream.**

This web page is paid for by the Change to Win Committee for the American Dream and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.