The following piece is published as part of Huffington Post's OffTheBus project.
This is the third in a three-part series. View Part 2, Part 1.
Bill Richardson spent Friday, October 5, in Atlanta, GA, where he chartered a Spanish-named campaign infrastructure in a state with its fair share of anti-immigrant sentiments; had a lonely lunch at the Varsity; and, in a bit of a switch, helped local Democrats raise a little money for their efforts here at home.
Gov. Richardson capped off his long day in Atlanta with a visit to the house of labor, addressing an enthusiastic crowd at the IBEW auditorium downtown. Hosted by the Georgia Association of Democratic County Chairs, the Georgia AFL-CIO and the Young Democrats of Georgia, the event was the first in a series planned by GADCC president Mike Berlon to bring high-profile candidates to speak at real grassroots prices. The Richardson campaign wasn't promised a red cent for the extended visit, and the suggested door charge of $25 -- waived for unemployed or under-employed Young Dems and anyone else on the ropes -- went directly to the GADCC to cover the cost of the event and support other Democratic efforts in Georgia.
Well aware of his audience, Gov. Richardson spoke to key concerns of the labor movement, including a pledge to eliminate right-to-work laws, to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, and to nominate a Labor Secretary that is a union member, "who might be just in this room."
This story appeared at shelbinator.com.