Fox News' Neil Cavuto pressed Teamsters President Sean O'Brien on Wednesday after the union decided not to endorse either presidential candidate, even though more than half of the union supports former President Donald Trump.
Despite having historically supported Democratic candidates, the International Federation of Trucking has not refused to endorse any presidential candidate. Since During a 1996 appearance on “Your World With Neil Cavuto,” O'Brien said neither candidate could pledge to the group's “commitments,” in response to Cavuto emphasizing that the Republican Party was the only party that had invited him to their convention.
“We interviewed both candidates and sought commitments from both candidates, and we were unable to get firm commitments on core issues like the PRO Act and the veto. [the] “We need to protect people's right to work, including not intervening in labor disputes and not forcing contracts like what happened to our brothers in the rail industry,” O'Brien said.
“The lack of solid commitments from either candidate was a major factor in our decision as a board to not endorse any candidate,” O'Brien continued, “but, you know, we did a lot of polling and the polling was leaning heavily towards former President Trump. So, that's…”
But then Cavuto pointed out that the polls were “heavily” tilted in Trump's favour and asked whether O'Brien seemed “out of touch” with party members.
The two main Internal poll The group released results of a survey Wednesday showing that 59.6% of its rank-and-file members voted for the group to endorse Trump as its presidential candidate via electronic ballot, with just 31% backing Harris. Similarly, a survey phone poll showed 58% backing Trump, just 31% backing Harris, 6% undecided and 5% unsure.
(Related article: Labor union leaders refuse to endorse presidential candidate, while rank-and-file members overwhelmingly support Trump)
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“No, we are in no way separate from our members because we have conducted extensive polling that matters,” O'Brien said. “Our goal as leaders, as union leaders, as Teamsters leaders, is to give people a voice and to give them reliable information. We can't dictate to our members. They are knowledgeable and they will make their own decisions, but this is a bigger issue.”
“Democrats have always taken for granted that they're going to get our vote no matter what, while Republicans see themselves as the party of working people. I think both parties now need to take a step back and really reevaluate what their commitment to working people is, and that's what we've done in this process,” O'Brien said.
O'Brien also revealed that two of the three major polls of his membership are leaning toward the Republican presidential candidate, and Cavuto pointed out that by not endorsing, one can “take both sides” or “not take a position.” O'Brien countered that his goal is to “work together.”
In their announcement The group said Wednesday that it was refusing to endorse the candidate because of the “lack of majority support” for Harris and the lack of “universal support” for Trump.
O'Brien, mid-July Making history O'Brien became the first representative of one of the nation's largest labor unions to speak at the Republican National Convention (RNC). In his address to Republicans and their supporters, O'Brien said the group was “not beholden to anybody or any party” and declined to make an endorsement onstage.
United Auto Workers (UAW) Announced On Aug. 3, UAW President Sean Fain released a video announcing his support for Harris, saying, “Voters can choose someone who is ready to stand with us.”
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