State: State AFL-CIO leans toward Reno's rival

State AFL-CIO leans toward Reno's rival

Questioning her electability, the union delays making an endorsement.

By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor

Union supporters of gubernatorial candidate Janet Reno are putting the brakes on a major labor endorsement that appears headed toward her chief Democratic rival, Bill McBride.

The Florida AFL-CIO, which represents 391 local unions, has postponed its March 3 endorsement convention for 20 days because some members objected to how the meeting was scheduled. The objections came from leaders of the Service Employees International Union, which has a heavy concentration of South Florida members and some strong Reno backers.

The delay gives Reno three more weeks to push for the coveted AFL-CIO endorsement, but union members doubt the momentum would shift from McBride. The Tampa lawyer already has won the backing of the 122,000-member Florida Education Association last month, followed last week by the Florida Building Trades Council.

Reno supporter Martha Baker of Miami, a Jackson Memorial Hospital nurse who heads one of the Service Employees International locals, said the convention's initial scheduling violated AFL-CIO bylaws. Members "just want to make sure their voices are heard."

She said the delay is not designed to help Reno. Still, she was surprised at the labor support McBride has received. Polls show Gov. Jeb Bush would easily beat Reno, Baker said, but they also show McBride losing badly to Reno, the former U.S. attorney general.

"I think it's silly that some labor groups say he's the most electable. You look at the polls, and she's the most electable," Baker said.

Reno this week won the backing of the small but politically active International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.

The AFL-CIO endorsement requires a two-thirds vote by Florida delegates. State AFL-CIO president Cindy Hall doubted the three-week delay would change McBride's chances.