Yeah, this is big.
Per the New York Times:
Unite Here, the union representing more than 450,000 hotel, restaurant, apparel and laundry workers, is likely to announce its endorsement of Senator Barack Obama on Wednesday, a top union official said yesterday.
This is even better than expected, being a nationwide endorsement--Obama's first.
Of key importance:
The endorsement would make Unite Here the first national union to back Mr. Obama, and it would give him a big leg up in Nevada, where the union’s Las Vegas local, Culinary Local 226, with more than 60,000 members, is by far the largest and strongest union in the state.
This is absolutely huge for Nevada. Especially at a caucus which will have unknown attendance, the ability of the local Culinary to get its people out will be crucial.
It will also help in South Carolina:
The union, a successor to the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Union, also represents 400,000 retirees. Union officials say they could help Mr. Obama in South Carolina because they are one of the largest unions there as a result of the union’s long-time presence in the textile industry there.
They took a little bit longer than most, but they're on board now (or will be tomorrow).
This will ensure that Obama maintains positive momentum going into the Nevada caucuses, and beyond.