Crossed Fingers

Ben Smith, Politico

SEIU set to endorse Obama

Two labor sources tell Politico that the giant Service Employees International Union, which has been neutral through the primary, is on the verge of throwing its support to Sen. Barack Obama.

"It's done," said one person close to the union.

SEIU spokeswoman Stephanie Mueller confirmed that union leaders are set to discuss a potential endorsement today.

"Our board is going to be talking this evening," she said. "This will be a topic of their conversation."

An endorsement will be particularly important in beefing up his organization in Texas, where the union has a major presence among Latinos. (The Wisconsin SEIU has already endorsed Obama, and his Chicago allies are active there.)

Many SEIU leaders had backed Edwards before he dropped out, but giant New York- and Chicago-based locals blocked an endorsement. Now, with Chicago pushing hard for Obama and joined by much of the rest of the union's national organization, insiders said a tipping point appears to have been reached. A formal endorsement would come after tonight's call, when local organizations submit their written votes by email.

Jerry Morrison, a spokesman for the SEIU Illinois State Council, said he expected the union to make an announcement imminently, though he would not confirm an Obama endorsement.

"There’ll be some information tomorrow morning at the latest," he said.