Sanders wins key endorsement for presidential campaign

The powerful liberal PAC Democracy for America on Thursday endorsed Bernard Sanders for president, with the Vermont senator capturing nearly 88 percent of the vote in a members’ poll that underscores how progressives are almost unanimously behind the self-described democratic socialist.

“CWA members have made a clear choice and a bold stand in endorsing Bernie Sanders for President”, CWA President Chris Shelton said in a statement.

CWA, the largest communications and media union in the USA, represents about 700,000 telecommunications and technology workers.

The union endorsement was widely expected. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says it has now raked in more than 2 million donations, well above what any non-incumbent has raised by this point in a White House race.

“That’s a lot more important than a 30-second TV ad and that’s what the CWA brings to the table and that’s why I’m appreciative of their support”, Sanders said at the same press conference.

“What we are seeing is a lot of grassroots support in union after union in this country, but that support has not necessarily trickled up to the leadership”, he said.

By comparison, then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) hit 1 million donations in the winter of 2008, after the Iowa caucuses.

As reported by U.S. Uncut, Larry Cohen (former president of the CWA) joined the Bernie Sanders campaign this summer to act as the Senator’s labor adviser. She’s backed by such major unions as the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association.

“Hillary Clinton is humbled to have such tremendous support from labor unions who represent a diverse coalition of millions”, said Jesse Ferguson, a spokesman for the former secretary of state’s campaign.