In light of reduced membership and an organizational split, the AFL-CIO is gleeful over Democratic presidential candidates hewing to pro-labor positions and vying for the union's endorsement at tonight's forum in Chicago.

As the Chicago Tribune's Stephen Franklin reports, labor's power was felt in last year's elections: union households made up more than 30 percent of voters in Michigan and Illinois and the AFL-CIO "knocked on 8.2 million doors, sent out 30 million pieces of mail and handed out 14 million fliers," culminating in three-fourths of union members voting for endorsed candidates last year. In the 2004 election the AFL-CIO donated more than $200 million to candidates.

Before heading to Chicago for tonight's forum, Edwards "raised the stakes for his Democratic rivals by demanding stronger labor and environmental protections in U.S. trade agreements" in an Iowa speech, reports Bloomberg's Kim Chipman and Nicholas Johnston. Edwards singled out NAFTA (and Bill Clinton tacitly). "Too many of these agreements have cost jobs and devastated towns and communities across this country," Edwards said. He ran the speech by Teamster's president James Hoffa, who "liked what he heard" and plans to ask Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama if they agree with Edwards on trade.

The New York Times' Patrick Healy and Michael Cooper write Democrats are also campaigning on recent troubles in the home lending industry.

The Boston Globe's Marcella Bombardieri writes that Clinton and Obama have been "among the strongest voices in the Democratic Party for education reform," but are mum on changes to education as they court unions, talking mostly about "union favorites such as increasing federal school aid."

The Los Angeles Times' Peter Nicholas reports the AFL-CIO is upset with Clinton pollster Mark Penn who is president of a firm that has at least in one case advised a company that resisted unionization efforts. This isn't a new revelation or complaint, but the union is reprising their dissatisfaction with Penn and Clinton. "Learning that Mark Penn was CEO of a company that in fact conducts some of its business busting unions was very, very problematic to the AFL-CIO, as well as to many other unions, and we made that clear" to the Clinton campaign, said AFL-CIO political director Karen Ackerman.

Clinton is slated to give a "major policy address" on an unspecified topic today in New Hampshire, while Bill Richardson will announce his health care plan in Iowa today.

Clinton and Fred Thompson are having trouble reaching out to voters of the opposite sex, writes the AP's Alan Fram. Meanwhile, ABC News' Jake Tapper deflates the "myth" of Thompson as the man who revealed Richard Nixon's secret taping system during the Watergate investigation.

Almost all Republicans except Mitt Romney were in Iowa yesterday, campaigning before the Ames straw poll on Saturday. Romney felt comfortable enough to head to Florida where he pledged to ramp up his campaign in the face of low poll numbers.

Rudy Giuliani will speak in Iowa today about reducing abortions and increasing adoptions. Radio Iowa's O. Kay Henderson reports Giuliani said as president he'd promote a "culture of personality responsibility" by taking steps to encourage adoption as an alternative to abortion, which he said is "consistent with a culture of life."

In three separate stories, the Des Moines Register reports three Republicans' ideas to change their shared party. Ron Paul wants the "abolition of the Federal Reserve, the end of federal involvement in education and amnesty for immigrants in the nation illegally." [UPDATE: The Register story incorrectly wrote that Paul was for amnesty, which he is not. The Register posted a corrected story, noting that Paul reiterated his opposition to illegal immigration and appended a correction.]

John McCain said the GOP is largely to blame for Americans lack of faith in the government, mainly at the hands of insecure borders and profligate spending. Sam Brownback said his party should restore family values through religion, welfare changes and marriage incentives that would reduce dependency on government.

Finally, the Republican YouTube debate may not be finished after all. The Washington Times' Eric Pfeiffer reports that the Florida GOP (which is sponsoring the debate) has drawn commitments from four candidates and the "full field could be announced as early as this week," though the turn-around will push the debate into November or December.

Get these and today's other election stories at RCP's Politics and Elections page.