Everywhere I go, people ask who we’ll support now that U.S. Senator Chris Dodd is out of the race for president of the United States. They want to know what our plan is going forward in the run up to the general election.

Here’s what I tell them: the IAFF endorsed Senator Dodd after a lengthy process. We didn’t look at the polls or listen to the prognosticators. We followed our core principle. We were careful and deliberate. We considered the records of all the candidates on both sides of the aisle.

In the end, Chris Dodd’s 30-year record of having the backs of fire fighters meant that we could not turn our back on him — above all else, we are loyal to our friends. His record of leadership on issues important to this union and our members placed him — head and shoulders — above all the other candidates.

Quite literally, Chris has the best record in the history of any legislator in the U.S. Congress on our issues. That made our choice easy.

Of course, the outcome of the Iowa caucus was a major disappointment to us because Senator Dodd is a great leader and legislator. Ultimately, though, the torrent of money and attention that funneled like a tidal wave to the frontrunners was too much to overcome.

But even though our candidate for president may have lost, this union once again won.

Our voices were heard, and our trademark gold and black “Fire Fighters For” was everywhere in Iowa.

Our Iowa members came out in record numbers to caucus for Senator Dodd, despite the long odds he faced. We had members who are Independents and Republicans change their party that night to caucus for Chris. The number of our members who caucused for Senator Dodd was double the number who caucused for Senator John Kerry in 2004.

But even with that extraordinary effort, record turnout by Iowans at the January 3 caucus prevented Chris from gaining the traction he needed against the higher profile frontrunners.

Our Iowa members, locals and state association need to be congratulated and thanked for their outstanding efforts to coalesce on a frozen winter night to once again make a tremendous showing for our union.

Our gold and black was noticed by every candidate in the race, and by everyone involved in or paying attention to the process. As proof, as soon as Chris dropped out of the race, the other candidates began calling to ask for our support, and reporters wanted to know what our next move was going to be.

I’ve told those candidates and reporters, and I’ve told our leaders and members around the union who are asking, that while it is in our character as fire fighters and as a union to lead the way, this is no time to rush to judgment about endorsing another candidate for president.

First, we will let the rest of the primary process play out. Then, we will evaluate the remaining candidates before deciding on an endorsement —one of the most coveted in the House of Labor and across the entire political landscape.

There are still too many variables that have to be worked out in the remaining months in determining who the nominees will ultimately be.

We will make the decision when to re-enter the presidential political arena after sober, thoughtful deliberations among our Executive Board. And, I will have extensive discussions with our affiliate leadership as I travel around the country.

In the end, the most important thing to consider going forward is the integrity, reputation and solidarity of our union, and no candidate or single political race is worth undermining the political brand and effective operation we have built over these past eight years.

I also know we are already targeting and developing lists of key U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races that we will focus significant resources, time and energy on for the November elections. Being a powerful player in the political process at all levels remains a critical part of our union’s ability to get things done on your behalf in Congress and at the state level.

Even though we’ve taken a step back while the primary process plays out, know that we are still sitting in a position of considerable political strength.

Our bond with one of the U.S. Senate’s senior members, who has been there for us, is stronger than ever. And Senator Dodd is now back in Washington, ready to fight to pass our collective bargaining bill and other important legislation that is set to go before lawmakers this session.

With our reputation intact as one of the strongest, toughest and most loyal political fighters out there, for the next few months we are in a good position going into the home stretch, with candidates at all levels and on both sides of the aisle working as hard as they can to win our support for their candidacy.

And we will be following the teaching of the good book, showing that patience truly is a virtue.

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