April 2, 2008 - 3:43pm

AFL-CIO president backs Lautenberg over Andrews

As south and north Jersey locals today sparred with statements of support for either U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg or potential challenger U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, AFL-CIO President Charlie Wowkanech said he backs Lautenberg.

"I polled my executive board of 40 members and the level of support was overwhelmingly for Lautenberg," said the head of New Jersey's one million-strong labor organization.

"When it come to this guy's legislative record, I could put a list
together that would choke a horse," said Wowkanech, who attended
Lautenberg's campaign kick-off in Trenton on Monday.

"He was good to us in his previous term as well as now," Wowkanech added. "He's a little bit old, yeah, but he's getting the job done."

Regarding Andrews, Wowkanech described the south Jersey congressman as a personal friend and "great guy," who has helped labor throughout his career and forcefully backed the Employee Free Choice Act. He said he does not find it surprising at all that Andrews has strong support from labor at the local and county level.