OH-05: Weirauch (D) Rallies AFL/CIO Phone Bankers

This afternoon Robin Weirauch (D-Napoleon) spoke to an ebullient crowd of AFL/CIO members phonebanking at IBEW Local 8 in Rossford, Ohio. Weirauch was introduced as "the next Congressional representative from the 5th District" to foot-stomping and boisterous cheering. "The Republican Party has spent 16% of their available resources into this race," the introducer continued. "This shows that we have a good candidate. This was supposed to be a walkaway for any Republican, just like it was for the last 70 years. But we've got the candidate, we've got the momentum, and we're going to win."

Weirauch greeted the crowd enthusiastically and thanked them for the t-shirt. A union official reported that out of various headquarters the labor organization has made 32,000 live volunteer phone calls today, and out of those calls there were 7,271 enthusiastic Weirauch supporters.

Weirauch said that she remains thoroughly convinced that she will win today, due in large part to the efforts of labor. "The ALF/CIO program is so impressive," she said, "and you guys get so fired up." Weirauch said that union members know what this election is really about -- good jobs and trade agreements that really protect workers. She said that she has been talking to people who are skeptical that trade agreements can be fixed, but she tells them that since we passed them, we can fix them -- it is just a matter of having the will to do it, and the purpose of making them protect working families in our country as well as in other countries.

Weirauch also talked about fighting for affordable health care and quality education for working families. "We clearly have a huge opportunity to make sure that everybody has the kind of education they need to fully develop themselves and to become productive workers and to help America be stronger and more competitive in this huge competitive global marketplace." One of the biggest cheers was for her pledge of support for the Employees Free Choice Act.

"Your tireless work is why we have the momentum in this race," she said. "We are really going to blow people out of the water with this result. And, think of the message that it's going to send around the world -- that labor made it happen!"

At the end of her remarks, Weirauch offered the slogan "It's our time" as a theme for the election. "It is time for us to finally start standing up for the working families of America," she said. "It is our time."

Weirauch said her campaign really kicked into high gear when labor stepped up to the plate, thanking the workers for their efforts. "Let's all have a historical day today." The crowd shouted "Robin! Robin!" and performed "The Wave" as she concluded.