[Exclusive] The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) is set to announce its endorsement of Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd in the 2008 presidential race later this week.  As Ben Smith at the Politico reports, “The endorsement comes as something as a surprise. Labor insiders had expected the union, one of labor’s big endorsements, to go with one of the front-runners.”

Because Iowa labor does not always follow the lead of its national representatives when it comes to supporting candidates, Iowa Independent interviewed Wayne Sawtelle, political director of the IAFF’s Iowa organization.

Asked if the Iowa firefighters would follow their national organization’s endorsement and support Dodd in the caucuses, Sawtelle said, “I haven’t heard.”

“We typically have followed what the international’s lead is,” he continued.  “We do have a meeting later this week…I’m guessing that might be a topic of discussion then.”

In 2004, the IAFF endorsed Sen. John Kerry.  The endorsement was credited with much of Kerry’s eventual success in Iowa.