NOW will back Sestak for Senate today

The nation's largest feminist advocacy group is putting its muscle behind Rep. Joe Sestak's Democratic primary campaign for the U.S. Senate, citing his support of workplace equality for women and for gay rights.

Sestak is scheduled to receive the endorsement of the political action committee of the National Organization for Women today in Pittsburgh, a boost in his tough battle for the party nomination against Sen. Arlen Specter (D., Pa.).

"Congressman Sestak is very strong on our issues," NOW president Terry O'Neill said in an interview. "We think he has the ability to win this race."

Sestak, a retired Navy admiral in his second term in the House, has proposed a Gender Equity Act, which among other things would eliminate caps on gender-discrimination lawsuits against large businesses, double the child-care tax credit to $6,000 a year, and allow women to continue earning partial Social Security credit when they leave the workforce to care for a child or other family member.

NOW also cited Sestak's strong record of supporting abortion rights, his cosponsorship of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and his efforts to overturn the military's ban on openly gay service members.

O'Neill said the nod was a "positive endorsement" of Sestak "as the way forward," rather than a negative commentary on Specter's record on women's issues.

Sestak said in an interview: "I am grateful for the credibility that comes from having the support of an organization that's always been fighting for equality since the '60s. NOW is not a special interest. It's the interest of a majority of our population . . . [about] making America a better common enterprise."

The endorsement comes at a crucial time for Sestak as he seeks to build momentum 11 weeks before the May 18 primary. Specter, who is seeking a sixth term, has led by double-digit margins in most public polls, at least in part because of Sestak's lower name recognition.

Neither campaign has yet run broadcast television ads.

"NOW's biggest contribution to any campaign is boots on the ground," O'Neill said. "We pride ourselves on being able to mobilize volunteers to go door to door, canvass, hold house parties, get on the phone."

The organization has 13,000 members in Pennsylvania, said Joanne Tosti-Vasey, president of Pennsylvania NOW. She will present the endorsement to Sestak during a noon event today at his Pittsburgh campaign headquarters.

O'Neill said NOW/PAC endorsed Sestak after two interviews and on the strong recommendation of the state leadership of the organization.