Is the New Obama Endorsement a Sign?

Yesterday, State Rep. Mark Smith, a social worker who represents a district that includes Marshalltown in Central Iowa, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama. The question about Smith’s endorsement was never “whom” he would endorse; it was “whether” and “when” he would endorse.

Democratic politics in Smith’s district are essentially run by the United Auto Workers, who represent the employees at Fisher Controls International, a large manufacturer of industrial valves, and Lennox Industries, a manufacturer of heaters for home and commercial use. Fisher and Lennox are two of Marshalltown’s largest employers, and their UAW employees comprise the city’s Democratic base. Smith’s political interests are tied to the wishes of the UAW local, just as Gov. Chet Culver’s were when he received that union’s endorsement in the 2006 gubernatorial primary. The UAW was credited more than any other Democratic interest group as the reason for Culver’s tight margin of victory in that race.

Smith, who enjoys fairly widespread popularity in his district, actually endorsed Mike Blouin, one of Culver’s competitors, in the 2006 primary; but keeping the UAW on his good side certainly makes his life easier. That Smith endorsed Obama could be a sign of where UAW’s membership stands.

Obama has also made repeated trips to the city of Newton, which was the UAW’s traditional base city in Iowa before the Maytag plant, which employed thousands of UAW members, shut down this year. He has also held several private events for UAW members across the state. Even if the Illinois Senator does not receive an official UAW endorsement in the coming months, his determined courtship will make it difficult for the union to endorse former Sen. John Edwards, who has also worked hard to earn UAW support.