Feel the Love

Robert Novak writes:

James P. Hoffa was brought "kicking and screaming" to his presidential endorsement of Sen. John Kerry and really preferred Sen. John Edwards, according to a close associate of the Teamsters leader.

Hoffa met separately with Kerry and Edwards after the union president's first choice for the nomination, Rep. Richard Gephardt, dropped out following his defeat in the Iowa caucuses. Hoffa told friends that Edwards was much closer to Gephardt on international trade issues, adding that he did not care that much for Kerry personally.

Gephardt had quickly endorsed Kerry, and he talked Hoffa into getting on the winner's bandwagon. Gephardt and Hoffa attended the University of Michigan Law School together.