Trumka, Other Labor Leaders Holding Back on Hillary

AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka and other national labor leaders are holding out for Hillary Clinton to make a stronger commitment to the movement's issues before agreeing to endorse her bid for the Democratic nomination.

Instead, reports The Hill, Trumka has been flirting with an endorsement for Sen. Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden, even though the vice president hasn't entered the race.

"Say you're in love with a girl and want to marry her. She's playing it cool. So you figure the best way to make her jealous is to flirt with someone else," Democratic strategist Brad Bannon said.

But Trumka and other labor officials are angry over how the Obama administration handled trade issues and do not appreciate that Clinton hasn't taken a clear stand against the Trade Promotion Authority bill that passed this summer.

Trumka accompanied Biden in a Labor Day parade and rally on Monday in Pittsburgh, and told reporters that he did not know if Biden was going to run, adding, "if you're looking for energy, this is a great place to get energy today."

In his Steel City speech, Biden called for steps to fix income inequality, and gave an idea of what his campaign could look like if he decides to enter the race.

However, it's early for the AFL-CIO to endorse any candidate, as normally, the organization waits until the primaries are over and instead makes its endorsement during the general election.

The American Federation of Teachers and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have already supported Clinton, but the AFL-CIO, the Teamsters, and Service Employees International still have not made their endorsements.

Clinton said Friday she expects to receive the vital labor endorsements after Labor Day is over, calling herself a "strong advocate for organized labor" but saying she's not going to take the endorsement for granted.

Related Stories:

• Gallup Bares Hillary's Sinking Poll Numbers
• How Bernie Sanders is Courting Organized Labor