Unions have long been politically weak in North Carolina. But the state may see a new, more aggressive and more politically savvy union offensive in elections over the next three years.

The Service Employees International Union – which The News & Observer called “the nation’s largest public employee union” – gave $100,000 to the House Democratic caucus in August.

The same union financed mailings against developer-backed candidates in the Raleigh city elections last year. They may be back next year.

And it is part of the Change To Win labor coalition that plans to play a big role in picking the Democratic presidential candidate in 2008.

North Carolina’s Democratic Party has long been moderated by the need to raise money from business people. The union – and its progressive allies – are out to change that.

That’s why they’ve partnered with the State Employees Association of North Carolina. Public employees – state government, teachers and local governments – are fertile ground for union growth.

This could all mean a more “populist” (some call it liberal and some call it progressive) path for Democrats.

It will certainly mean a more aggressive focus on corporate abuses, as in the anti-Wal Mart campaign.

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