Ohio Valley Politics

When Bill Clinton comes to Stuebenville this weekend, several of the usual faces at such events missing. Local leaders of the United Steelworkers Union have announced that they won’t be attending Clinton’s speech because they still feel betrayed by the former President’s policies on free trade.

Clinton had received a lot of support from local steelworkers during his 1992 presidential run but the relationship deteriorated shortly after Clinton was elected. In 1999 the confrontation reached a climax during the “Valley’s Rally“, when over 6,000 area residents travelled by bus to Washington to hold a march and rally.

The union had previously been supporting John Edwards, but in the wake of his withdrawal remains uncommitted.