Former Kennedy adviser to run political shop for auto union

A former longtime chief of staff to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy who also managed Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign has been named political director for the United Auto Workers.
 
The UAW, one of the largest unions for employees of the Detroit-based U.S. auto companies, said Tuesday Mary Beth Cahill would run its Washington office. In addition to working for Kennedy and Kerry, both Massachusetts Democrats, Cahill worked in President Bill Clinton White House's Office of Public Liasion and at EMILY's List.
 
UAW president Bob King said that experience will make Cahill invaluable to the auto union, which has clashed with Congress during negotiations over the conditions of federal assistance sought by the struggling auto firms. 

"We are thrilled to have Mary Beth join the UAW leadership team especially in light of the difficult challenges ahead for our union," King said in a statement. 
 
"As we navigate the tough political environment in this era of attacks on American working families and the middle class, and head into national contract talks for the domestic automakers, I'm confident that she will help us elect officeholders who are allies in the battle to save the American middle class," King said. "And most importantly, she will help us move forward in achieving global social justice, rebuilding the U.S. middle class and building a global middle class. She is a renowned authority on women and politics and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the union's political operations."