Four Democrats woo Iowa labor; Clinton absent

ALTOONA - Four 2016 Democratic presidential candidates spent Thursday afternoon trying to woo a key bloc of Iowa voters who will turn out for the Feb. 1 first-in-the-nation precinct caucuses - members of the Iowa Federation of Labor.

The IFL forum drew about 200 union members to hear Lincoln Chafee, Martin O'Malley and Jim Webb in person at an Altoona convention center, and Bernie Sanders via a video screen from Washington. Front-runner Hillary Clinton could not attend because of a scheduling conflict with an event in California, noted union leader and forum moderator Ken Sagar, who added 'we had about 16 Republicans who couldn't show up either.”

Sanders, 73, an independent senator from Vermont, told the gathering a 'massive grass-roots movement of millions of people saying enough is enough” is needed to address income inequality. Sanders said inequality has developed, in part, because of the ability of large corporations and wealthy individuals to exert influence via massive campaign contributions and avoid paying their share of taxes.

Sanders called for a five-year infrastructure initiative that would create up to 13 million jobs funded by closing tax loopholes and halting the 'huge transfer of wealth” that has occurred over the past 30 years.

O'Malley, the former governor of Maryland and mayor of Baltimore, told the union members he was the first in the 2016 presidential field to propose raising the minimum wage to $15 but would work for 'sensibly rebalancing” economic policies that will boost all wages, bolster the middle class and 'quit stumbling backward into bad trade deals.”

O'Malley, 52, appeared to differentiate himself from his rivals by declaring 'I am a Democrat” - with Chaffee having previously been a Republican and Sanders an independent. At another point, O'Malley told the conference participants: 'I don't just make progressive promises, I get progressive results.”

Chafee, 62, touted his labor record at the local, state and federal levels in his past positions as a Rhode Island governor, U.S. senator and mayor, saying his record speaks to his 'diligence and tenacity” in making decisions that favored average citizens over the privileged.

Chafee touted his record, character, courage and honesty, noting, 'I've been scandal-free.”

He also differentiated himself as a 'peace candidate” who voted against military intervention in Iraq as a U.S. senator.

Webb, 69, a former U.S. Navy secretary, veteran, journalist and U.S. senator from Virginia, said as commander of chief he would understand when it was appropriate to use force. He also said he would understand the needs of veterans.

He drew cheers when he held up a union card and declared, 'I'm a very proud union member.”

Webb said he would work for 'common-sense solutions to the problems we face.” He said he has the experience and background that would enable him to work across the aisle in a bipartisan way in a capital that has been dogged by dysfunction and gridlock.