The American Federation of Teachers last week endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York for the Democratic nomination for president.
The AFT鈥檚 41-member executive council voted overwhelmingly to back Sen. Clinton, who holds views similar to the union鈥檚 on education and has promised to increase access to health care and create more jobs, said Antonia Cortese, the executive vice president of the 1.3 million-member union.
Seven Democratic candidates had met with the AFT鈥檚 executive council and answered questions. An AFT statement said all the major Republican candidates declined or did not respond to similar invitations.
鈥淲hen [Sen. Clinton] came to the council, she specifically spoke about [the No Child Left Behind Act] and the underfunding of it, and how you cannot micromanage from Washington,鈥� Ms. Cortese said in an interview.
鈥淲e also believe that electability has to be a criterion,鈥� she added. 鈥淚f you look at any of the polls, she鈥檚 very much ahead. She鈥檚 a strong candidate.鈥�
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