Obama's curiously close labor friendship

In a fractious labor movement fraught with rivalries and mutual suspicion, SEIU head Andy Stern's close association with President Obama has given Stern cachet that may prove important in the competition to lure new members. The SEIU spent $60 million to help elect Obama, according to the union. Stern said the group deployed 100,000 volunteers during the campaign, including 3,000 who worked on the election full time. Now in the White House, Obama has continued to derive political benefits from the union.