Firefighters, hailed as heroes on Sept. 11, 2001, cheered Hillary Rodham Clinton when they gathered on Wednesday to size up presidential contenders minus Rudolph Giuliani.
Clinton, a 59-year-old Democratic senator from New York, and Giuliani, the 62-year-old former Republican mayor who led New York City during the attacks, are front-runners in polls months before the November 2008 vote.
Clinton and Illinois Democrat Sen. Barack Obama were among the 10 presidential candidates who spoke from the two parties; Giuliani said he was busy.
On a stage flanked by photos of the World Trade Center devastation, Clinton evoked memories of those days, telling the cheering International Association of Firefighters: “You were there when we needed you.”
Giuliani angered the 280,000-member union when he cut off efforts to recover the remains of 9/11 victims before all had been found.
IAFF President Harold Schaitberger said Giuliani’s actions were “so egregious” that union leaders debated whether to invite him, although they ultimately did.
‘A pretty shaky foundation’
Earlier this week, Giuliani said “the firefighters are my heroes,” but unions had political agendas. He cited scheduling conflicts as his reason for missing the event.
“In some ways, the foundation of his entire candidacy is on the back of 9/11, and I view that as a pretty shaky foundation,” Schaitberger said of Giuliani.
The forum featured contenders from both parties lavishing praise and promises on the union, which helped Sen. John Kerry win the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination with its early backing.
Unlike most union political events, which are usually heavily Democratic, the bipartisan nature of the firefighters’ union attracted four Republican candidates to the forum.
The union is more than 90 percent male and split roughly evenly between Republicans and Democrats, Schaitberger said. It has endorsed Republicans in the past, including Clinton’s Senate opponent in 2000.
‘A noble calling’
The union backed Clinton during her 2006 Senate re-election campaign, and Schaitberger enthusiastically introduced her as his “good friend.”
Democrats also promised to back collective bargaining rights, promote universal health care plans and more adequately fund and equip the fire teams who were the first responders in emergency situations.
“It’s a noble calling to see a building ablaze and to want to rush in,” Obama said. “We love you for what you did on September 11.”
Schaitberger said the union would make an endorsement later this year.