PROVIDENCE -- Rekindling his long and friendly relationship with organized labor, Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse won the endorsement of the AFL-CIO last night, in his race for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Lincoln D. Chafee.

The endorsement fulfills a prediction Whitehouse made four years ago, just days after his stinging 2002 defeat in the Democratic primary for governor, when Whitehouse implored delegates at the AFL-CIO endorsement convention to "not forget me, because something tells me we may not be done yet."

After easily defeating two largely unknown primary opponents in Tuesday's election, Whitehouse returned last night to the union meeting at the Providence Convention Center as the Democratic nominee for Senate. The endorsement of the affiliated unions, representing some 80,000 members, brings campaign cash and grass-roots support to Whitehouse, including union-sponsored direct mail, phone banks and Election Day turnout efforts, said AFL-CIO secretary treasurer George Nee.

Chafee made Whitehouse work for the endorsement. The senator offered his own record as a friend to labor before 221 union delegates.

In remarks to the gathering, Whitehouse wound his themes -- increasing the minimum wage, rejecting trade deals that he says fail to protect American jobs, opposing the privatization of Social Security, getting American soldiers home from Iraq -- around the central spine of his campaign: control of the U.S. Senate and opposition to President Bush, who, according to polls, is more unpopular in Rhode Island than in any other state.

One of the first decisions a senator will make, Whitehouse said, echoing his own campaign TV commercial, is whether he or she will vote for a U.S. Senate "controlled by the Republicans or led by Democrats."

"It's on that vote that George Bush's agenda rises or falls. A Republican-controlled Senate continues the Bush policies and its failures. A Democratic-led Senate changes the direction of our nation."

"I can tell you this: I will never cast that vote to empower the Bush administration and its agenda."

Unlike some AFL-CIO conventions, where Republicans have little chance of winning the endorsements, last night's convention had some sense of suspense. Chafee made his pitch for union backing, citing his record on labor issues during his service as Warwick mayor and in the Senate since 1999.

The executive board, a group of some 90 members, took its vote earlier yesterday, recommending Whitehouse. AFL-CIO president Frank Montanaro, Democratic national committeeman, said Whitehouse did not have a lock on the endorsement even after the committee vote, because a number of the internationals -- including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees -- "have strong relationships with Senator Chafee."

"I know you have a hard vote in front of you," Chafee said to the delegates. "But I'm used to taking hard votes, as you know. And I know it's probably unlikely I will get your endorsement, but sometimes, as you also know, I buck my leadership also."

Chafee's best hope last evening may have been to persuade the unions into making no endorsement, as former Governor Lincoln Almond, a Republican, did in his 1998 race against Democrat Myrth York. Labor's neutral stand in that race was considered a victory for Almond. The AFL-CIO has not in modern times supported a Republican for governor. Nee said last evening that the union has endorsed Republicans for other statewide offices; they endorsed, for example, former U.S. Rep. Claudine Schneider.

In recommending Whitehouse for the endorsement, Marcia Reback, president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, recalled a Whitehouse comment two years ago for which Whitehouse has often been "razzed." Talking about his regret at losing his 2002 bid for governor, he said he was "bred" for public service. Seeking to turn the comment in his favor, she said: Rhode Island has a great many "public policymakers who have been bred for the job. [Former U.S. Sen.] Claiborne Pell was bred for the job. [U.S. Rep.] Patrick Kennedy was bred for the job. Charlie Fogarty was bred for the job -- and Sheldon Whitehouse is bred to be the U.S. Senator from the state of Rhode Island."

Chafee campaign manager Ian Lang downplayed the union vote last evening. "Obviously the big news out of this [would have been] if Sheldon Whitehouse didn't get the endorsement," he said. He said Chafee opted to address the group because "at the end of the day, they are all going to vote on November 7."

The AFL-CIO also endorsed four other Democrats last night: Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, running for reelection; Frank T. Caprio, for state treasurer; North Providence Mayor A. Ralph Mollis, for secretary of state; and state Sen. Elizabeth Roberts, running for lieutenant governor. The keynote speaker last evening, Lt. Gov. Charles J. Fogarty, had already won union backing in his run for governor.

The delegates also affirmed their support for the proposed casino to be built by the Narragansett Indians and their partner, Harrah's Entertainment, on the promise that the casino would create thousands of union jobs.

Delegates also supported a resolution pushed by the Providence firefighters union to censure Providence Mayor David Cicilline, who has been at odds with firefighters over contract issues.

marsenau@projo.com / (401) 277-7231

kgregg@projo.com / (401) 277-7078