Edwards campaign claims union’s backing

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards has been endorsed by Nevada members of the Communications Workers of America, according to his campaign.

There are about 4,000 Nevada members of the union, working mainly for wireless phone companies. It is the first group of communications workers union members to endorse a presidential candidate.

Chuck Benway, president of the union's Reno local, said the former North Carolina senator's "rural background" and "support for Second Amendment rights" were factors in the endorsement, as well as his positions on health care and trade.

According to his campaign, Edwards believes Americans should be able to have guns to protect their families and to use for hunting "while also stopping criminals from using guns." The National Rifle Association, however, recently characterized Edwards as "no friend of gun owners or sportsmen."

Several unions in Nevada have been issuing presidential endorsements recently as the state's Jan. 19 presidential caucuses draw nigh.

Edwards said in a prepared statement, "I am honored to have the support of the Nevada CWA, whose members' hard work and expertise make up the backbone of our information age economy."

Edwards' campaign, lacking the financial resources and staff of others in the state, is hoping that union support will help him in the caucuses. The campaign's news release Thursday stated: "Labor holds an unrivaled level of organization in Nevada. The Edwards campaign is building a sophisticated operation that integrates labor's organization into the campaign's Caucus Day strategy."

The Edwards campaign claims the support of unions with 28,000 members in Nevada.