No sooner had PEF activists helped push New York Sen. Hillary Clinton to victory in New Hampshire’s presidential primary, than they turned their attention to the New York primary February 5 – Super Tuesday.
Members of the PEF Executive Board took time after their January 31 session in Albany to hit the phone banks and get out the vote for Hillary.
“We logged hundreds of hours in calls for her on just that one afternoon,” said PEF Vice President Joe Fox, who chairs the PEF Political Action Committee.
The following Saturday, Feb. 2, members from PEF Regions 10 and 11 joined a rally for Clinton in Manhattan’s Union Square, where PEF Vice President Pat Baker was a featured speaker.
“We brought lots of energy and enthusiasm for Hillary to the rally,” Baker said.
In fact, instead of being worn out by their long hours at the New Hampshire rally just a month earlier, members seemed energized by it.
“I made just one phone call to our members at Downstate Medical Center,” said PEF organizer Blair Burroughs, “and they all showed up.”
Nurses who had been to New Hampshire brought as many co-workers as they could to Union Square, based on who could get free that morning.
It was a busy day, with more phone banking by Region 11 members working with other Hillary supporters at the United Federation of Teachers offices in Queens. In Albany and Buffalo more PEF activists were turning out for Hillary. And the momentum carried through Super Tuesday, when Clinton won New York handily.
“We’re glad to support Clinton, because she has been there for us and appreciates the importance of public service,” Fox said.
— Sherry Halbrook
In compliance with federal election law, the above material is paid for by the New York State Public Employees Federation – Committee on Political Education (COPE), a separate, segregated fund at PO Box 12414, Albany, NY 12212; phone: 518-785-1900; and was not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
