AFL-CIO Puts Off Any Endorsement

BAL HARBOUR, Fla. — A divided AFL-CIO on Wednesday deferred making a Democratic presidential endorsement and freed its 89 individual member unions to back any candidate they like.

“If during the primary season a consensus emerges, the AFL-CIO may still make an endorsement,” said Lane Kirkland, president of the 14.2-million-strong federation. “We will review the situation from time to time as circumstances develop.”

“For now, affiliated international unions will work for the candidate of their choice,” he said.

Kirkland said it was unlikely that the endorsement issue would be reassessed before the March 10 Super Tuesday primaries.