Richardson picks up union endorsement

"I don’t know much about politics, but I am a union man and the head of my union said Richardson is good to vote for," the 65-year-old Perisich said as he awaited Richardson’s presence at the Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 797 annual picnic. "Union leaders have never steered me wrong so I follow what they say."

How the 6-foot-6-inch Perisich, whose Croatian heritage can still be heard in his speech, came to be a Richardson supporter is a dramatic illustration of the potential power of union endorsements in the upcoming Democratic caucuses.

If Perisich reflects the mind-set of other plasterers and masons in Nevada, Saturday was a good day for Richardson.

The 2,000-member union officially endorsed him.

"I humbly accept your endorsement," a jubilant Richardson told union business manager Marc Leavitt and hundreds of cheering union members who stopped eating hot dogs and hamburgers to listen to the presidential candidate who spoke to them in both English and Spanish. "When I am president, the secretary of labor will be a member of a union … and I will fire all union-busting attorneys" at the U.S. Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Richardson’s stop at the union picnic was part of a busy campaign schedule Saturday in Las Vegas that saw him meet with Summerlin Democrats, walk in the Hispanic Day Parade, and attend a gay and lesbian issues forum.

He also had a private meeting with Las Vegas City Councilman Gary Reese.

"I’ve asked other candidates to come talk to me about issues affecting my ward, and no one else would give me the time of day," Reese said. "But he came to my barbershop and talked to me about how the government should help the homeless, particularly finding treatment for the mentally ill, and how we have to find a way to help seniors with government programs. He’s got my endorsement now."

Reese said one of his patrons told Richardson that insurgents in Iraq should be "nuked."

Throughout the day in his public appearances, Richardson came out strong against the war in Iraq. His anti-war stance got rolling during a 9 a.m. meeting with members of the Red Rock Democratic Club in Summerlin.

Richardson said he would have all American troops out of Iraq in a year if he’s elected. To keep an American presence there for years as some candidates have suggested would hold up a political settlement in the country and needlessly cost more American lives, he said.

Richardson also told the Red Rock Democrats, who planned on going door to door to turn out Democratic voters for the caucuses after his speech, that the American education system needs strengthening if the United States wants to maintain its position as the world’s leader in business, technology and innovations.

In addition to upping starting teachers’ annual salaries to a minimum of $40,000 to attract a larger pool of the best and the brightest to the education profession, he wants to hire an additional 100,000 math and science teachers.

He also wants to create 250 math, science and innovation academies across the nation that would bring together students, educators and entrepreneurs.

Money for enhanced educational programs would come from cutting $60 billion from unneeded military weapons programs, he said.

During the downtown parade on a cool, sunny morning, Richardson either walked behind, or rode in, an open trailer with a group that called itself "Veterans for Richardson." Whenever the veterans saw people along the parade route, they chanted, "Viva Richardson."

Their chants were kept to a minimum, however, because no more than 200 individuals lined the six-block parade route.

Richardson, who also planned to campaign late Saturday in Reno and Sparks, made it clear that he doesn’t like New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is leading in the polls, "acting as if she’s won" the Democratic nomination.

"This race is not over," he said. "We’ve got three months to go."

Contact reporter Paul Harasim at pharasim@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2908.