Biden clings to the union's first major endorsement in 2020



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Just hours before Joe Biden began his election campaign for the first time as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, the former vice president got his first major support.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) announced Monday morning that it supports Biden, which has longstanding and close ties with the union and the organized labor movement in general.

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"On behalf of the International Association of Fire Fighters, I am proud to announce that we are alongside Joe Biden and we are endorsing his candidacy for the presidency of the United States," said the president of the United States. IAFF, Harold Schaitberger, in a video.

Schaitberger pointed out that "Joe looks a lot like our firefighters.He is a problem solver who cares deeply about America and who is committed to improving our country.He is one most fervent supporters of working families. "

The approval of the IAFF – which was on the sidelines of the 2016 general elections – is the first by a large union of this presidential cycle.

IAFF's support comes a few hours before Biden delivers the first major speech of his presidential campaign – his third candidacy for the White House – in a Teamsters banquet hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event kicks off the former Vice President's six states over three weeks. This trip should end with an important speech in Philadelphia.

The beginning and end of his initial campaign drive in Pennsylvania is not a surprise. The state – long a crucial battleground in presidential elections – was one of the key states of the Rust Belt working class, Republican President Trump had been overthrown in the 2016 election for Help him to seize the White House.

And although Biden has long lived in Delaware and represented that state for nearly four decades in the Senate, he was born and spent his early years in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Keystone State has always remained dear to him. The stops in Pennsylvania are supposed to indicate that Biden is determined to pick up working-class voters influenced by Trump's populist message in 2016. Just days before the launch of his campaign last week, Biden went to Boston to support and denounce Stop and Shop supermarket employees.

Biden gave a major indication of his presidential future during his speech to IAFF at their annual convention in Washington, DC, in March. Biden was greeted with slogans of "run Joe, run" as he climbed onto the podium.

A few minutes later, during his speech, Biden said, "I appreciate the energy you showed when I arrived here. Save a little longer. I may need it in a few weeks.

The comment caused a standing ovation of the public.

"Pay attention to what you want," jokes Biden. "Pay attention to what you want."

Although the number of union members has declined in recent decades, they remain a powerful political force, particularly in the politics of the Democratic Party. The IAFF, created a century ago, has more than 316,000 members in more than 3,200 affiliated organizations. Its political action committee is one of the most active and powerful in the country.

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