At least two of the four Democratic Senators who did not co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act are viewed by one very influential group as potential votes against the proposed legislation. The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, a group formed to pool the resources of those opposing the EFCA, has begun running radio spots in Arkansas and Nebraska urging Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) to vote against the bill. Click HERE to listen to the Nebraska ad and HERE  for the Arkansas spot.

This blitz comes on the heels of CDW’s announcement that a survey conducted by the conservative research and strategic services company McLaughlin & Associates reveals that “ 75% of union households would be less likely to support a Senator for reelection who voted to strip away a worker’s right to a private ballot .” Senator Pryor is up for reelection in 2008.

The CDW’s Arkansas ads do not mention Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), who does not face reelection until 2010. Washington, D.C. paper The Hill reports:

A business source said the coalition calculated that if Pryor decides to vote against the bill, Lincoln will as well, as a way of offering support for Pryor.

The ads are also not running in Colorado, home of the fourth Democratic non-sponsor, Senator Ken Salazar.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s The Bulletin  recently spoke with Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), who reportedly said the following about the Employee Free Choice Act:

"I have been contacted extensively by people on both sides of the issue," Specter said. "It is, I think, the most controversial issue in the Congress today, and I'm considering people who are for it and people who are against it."

Specter said that he is weighing the opposition's worry at taking away the right to vote secretly in union elections as well as organized labor's concern that unions have lost membership in recent years but hope to remain effective. "What I'm looking for is to have a level playing field," Specter said. I believe that I need to give all of my constituents an opportunity to be heard on the matter before coming to a judgment."

Another Republican sometimes viewed as susceptible to union pressure, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), is the subject of CDW radio ads thanking her for her support of secret ballots and urging her to “ keep fighting for us .” Like Senator Pryor, Senator Collins is up for re-election in 2008. According to the Portland (ME) Press Herald :

Sen. Susan Collins said she's concerned that the legislation would "deprive employees of their long-standing right to decide by secret ballot whether or not to be represented by a union by allowing the union to sidestep the current election process by gathering a certain number of authorization cards."

See also:

• Reading the Senate Tealeaves on the EFCA
• Reading the Senate Tealeaves on the EFCA, part 2