The American Federation of Teachers last week endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York for the Democratic nomination for president.
The AFT’s 41-member executive council voted overwhelmingly to back Sen. Clinton, who holds views similar to the union’s on education and has promised to increase access to health care and create more jobs, said Antonia Cortese, the executive vice president of the 1.3 million-member union.
Seven Democratic candidates had met with the AFT’s executive council and answered questions. An AFT statement said all the major Republican candidates declined or did not respond to similar invitations.
“When [Sen. Clinton] came to the council, she specifically spoke about [the No Child Left Behind Act] and the underfunding of it, and how you cannot micromanage from Washington,” Ms. Cortese said in an interview.
“We also believe that electability has to be a criterion,” she added. “If you look at any of the polls, she’s very much ahead. She’s a strong candidate.”
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