<html><DIV> <P><BR><BR></P></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>L.A. Times reported on Tuesday that the pro-labor candidate for mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, is polling at 40%, seven points behind the other Democratic candidate, James K. Hahn, with 47%.  The runoff election is next week.  Apparently, Villaraigosa was up by 5 points in April, but Hahn has been running a flurry of tv ads depicting Villaraigosa as "soft on crime" and "sympathetic to criminals."  Conservative and moderate voters in the Valley and South LA, who are more likely to vote, are giving Hahn the surge.  Villaraigosa will need a huge turnout by labor and latinos to squeeze out a last-minute win.  No doubt about it, this race is the most important one for labor this year.  A candidate who is explicitly and unapologetically pro-union and pro-organizing could become mayor of the nation's second largest city.<BR>     </DIV><br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a ! href="http://explorer.msn.com">http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p></html>