Bill George

HARRISBURG -- Barack Obama's support in Pennsylvania, despite a double-digit lead in most polls, is relatively soft in western Pennsylvania.

AFL-CIO President Bill George is trying to change that.

In a press conference at the Capitol, the powerful union head said he thinks 71 percent of union members will strongly support the Democratic presidential nominee on Election Day -- higher than the percentage U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) received in 2004 and 2 points lower than the support former vice president Al Gore received in 2000.

If his Monday press conference was any indication, he will focus on two issues to persuade union members -- tax cuts and social security.

"You can see the influence of John McCain is still about Wall Street," George said.

Democratic state Senate candidate Tony Bompiani will join state AFL-CIO President Bill George on Wednesday at a campaign stop in New Stanton.

Bompiani, considered by Democrats as one of their best opportunities for a pickup in the Senate, will join George at a worksite leafletting event outside a UPS Customer Center from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Bompiani faces Westmoreland County Republican Commissioner Kim Ward in the state's 39th Senatorial District this fall. Ward was a last-minute replacement for state Sen. Bob Regola, who unexpectedly dropped out of the race. 

The campaign stop for George is part of a weeklong western Pennsylvania bus tour for the union president as he tries to raise support for local candidates and the Democratic presidential ticket. 

In a move surprising nobody, incumbent Democratic Auditor General Jack Wagner received the AFL-CIO endorsement in his re-election quest against Republican Chet Beiler.

"Jack Wagner has stood up for working men and women during his entire career, and especially as auditor general," said AFL-CIO president Bill George. "We're proud to head into the fall campaign enthusiastically backing Jack for re-election."

Wagner, a rumored gubernatorial candidate in 2010, is the favorite against Beiler this fall. 

Jason Petrella's selection to ballot by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party in the 47th Senatorial District on Wednesday has infuriated local Democratic and union leaders, who said the state party unilaterally made a decision while ignoring their recommendation.

The anger runs deep enough that the decision might even endanger the union's endorsement of the Democratic candidate.

As Dennis Bloom, president of Beaver-Lawrence County Central Labor Council, put it, "We gave them our two selections and kind of got slapped."

The two preferred selections Bloom referred to are Bob Grotevant, former spokesman for Gov. Bob Casey (D) who emerged as a last-minute candidate this week, and Beaver County Commissioner Joe Spanik, originally considered the favorite to replace Ramaley.

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton: Photo by Getty ImagesDemocratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton scored a key endorsement today from the president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, who happens to also be Democratic Party superdelegate.

Bill George, the state AFL-CIO's chief, came to his decision after reviewing the results and the exit polls from Pennsylvania's primary election from last week.