By Jesse Russell

As the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees held their leadership forum Tuesday, the Democratic Presidential candidates attempted to strut their union credentials. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson first proposed the idea of having a union leader nominated as secretary of labor with New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama suggesting that they would also support such an idea. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards tapped into his labor roots saying it was time for a President of the United States who would stand on the White House lawn and explain why “unions matter in America.”

[Edwards]: It’s time to have a President of the USA who stands before the American people and says it is time to ban the hiring of permanent replacements for strikers and make that the law of the land.

He also addressed the Employee Free Choice Act which is currently before the Senate:

[Edwards2]: If you can join the Republican Party by signing your name to a card or you can join the Democratic Party by signing your name to a card, then any American worker should be able to join a union by signing a name to a card.