2008 Presidential Election
On March 14, 2007, the IAFF held a bipartisan presidential forum in Washington, D.C., that included all major Republican and Democratic candidates for president except former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani was invited March 5, accepted the invitation and subsequently declined to appear before the IAFF.
Each year the IAFF hosts a national legislative conference in Washington, DC that is open to any IAFF member who wishes to register. The IAFF legislative conference is the largest legislative conference of any union in the country. Over the years attendees have heard from President Bill Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden, members of the Cabinet of both Republican and Democratic administrations and numerous members of Congress, including the Leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives and key congressional staff.
It was the only forum in the 2008 Election Cycle in which both President-then Senator Obama, Vice President-then Senator Biden and Senator McCain all participate and was highlighted in David Plouffe’s chronicle of the Obama Campaign, The Audacity to Win.
Democrats who attended were Sen. Joe Biden (DE), Sen. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), Sen. Chris Dodd (CT), former Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Barack Obama (IL) and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Republicans who attended were Sen. Sam Brownback (KS), Sen. Chuck Hagel (NE), former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, Rep. Duncan Hunter (CA) and Sen. John McCain (AZ).
On Monday, August 27, 2007, the IAFF decided to endorse Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) for president in 2008. On January 3, 2008, the evening of the Iowa Democratic caucuses, 2008, Sen. Dodd withdrew from the Presidential contest. At its convention in August 2008 the delegates unanimously endorsed Barack Obama (D-IL) for President.
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