AFL-CIO: More Boots on the Ground in 2008

The NRA wasn't the only big political player that was positioning itself for 2008 today.

Meeting in Washington, Big Labor's executive council voted to put $53 million toward voter mobilization, which is more than it has ever spent before and $3 million over its 2004 budget. The goal is to have 200,000 volunteers working phone banks, knocking on doors and talking to their co-workers.

The AFL-CIO also expects to put more emphasis on House, Senate and legislative races, targeting 23 states, with Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin as its top priorities.

The council also elected Arlene Holt-Baker as Executive Vice President, marking the first time an African-American woman has held one of the AFL-CIO's top three offices.