Just in time for the first presidential debate, the Credit Union National Association is rolling out the next phase of its "Strong Credit Unions, Strong Middle Class" campaign, which it launched last year during the run-up to primary voting.
CUNA said it is working with state credit union leagues and member credit unions to create an online presence that can be picked up by debate organizers who are using Facebook in order to identify and compile voter concerns for topics to address to the candidates.
"Regardless of which candidate they support, we are asking members to contact the presidential candidates to tell them that credit unions are serving the middle class," said CUNA's chief political officer, Richard Gose. The idea, the trade group said, is to make sure candidates understand that any discussion of the middle class during the debates should include credit unions—and how the ever-growing regulatory burden impact CUs' ability to serve their members.
Last year, as the primary season got underway, the "Strong Middle Class" campaign utilized Twitter so that credit union members and supporters could tweet directly at the Republican and Democratic primary candidates about issues pertaining to credit unions and strengthening the middle class. More than 30,000 messages were sent to candidates that way, CUNA said.
Though CUNA has continued its long-standing tradition of not endorsing a president candidate, the association has stepped up credit unions' involvement and visibility in this year's election, playing off of both parties' messages on the importance of strengthening the middle class.
"We want the next administration to understand and support credit unions' mission because we know strong and healthy credit unions are central to a strong middle class," Gose said in a statement. "The 'Strong Credit Unions, Strong Middle Class' campaign gives credit union members the opportunity to make their voices heard so we are part of the national conversation around the middle class."
More information on CUNA's campaign is available at www.MiddleClass2016.com.
