Biden seeks reelection support from teachers union (AP)

CHICAGO – Vice President Joe Biden says the "new Republican party" fundamentally doesn't believe in public education the way Democrats do.

The Democrat spoke Sunday before thousands of educators at the National Education Association's annual convention in Chicago. The association bills itself as the largest labor union nationwide.

The speech came a day before the union's vote on whether to endorse President Barack Obama's reelection campaign.

Biden says Republicans in states like Wisconsin and Ohio would once have negotiated better with teachers and labor unions. But he says there's now an organized effort to place blame for budget shortfalls on their shoulders.

Biden's speech largely praised teachers, but he drew applause when he briefly acknowledged there's widespread unhappiness among them for the Obama administration's education policies.

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Major teachers union endorses Obama's re-election (AP)

CHICAGO – The nation's largest education union has endorsed President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.

Members of the National Education Association voted to support Obama on Monday at their annual convention in Chicago.

In a statement, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel says Obama and the union share a vision and members wanted early and strong support to help his election.

The endorsement comes a day after Vice President Joe Biden addressed thousands of educators at the convention. The association has 3.2 million members and bills itself as the largest labor union nationwide.

Biden's speech largely praised teachers and he took jabs at Republicans, saying they don't share the same views on public education.

But Biden drew applause when he briefly acknowledged there's widespread unhappiness among teachers for the Obama administration's education policies.

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