The AFL-CIO is mobilizing union members who are military veterans to work against Republican presidential candidate John McCain and other office seekers it opposes.

The labor federation's president, John Sweeney, announced the creation of a Union Veterans Council in a teleconference today.

The union plans to form state councils of union veterans in key election battlegrounds, including Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and West Virginia. Later, it plans to organize in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Virginia.

The union endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president last month.

The new council will include close to a dozen state affiliates and will also coordinate other veterans groups to raise the profile of veterans issues.

In response, the Republican National Committee said it's no surprise the AFL-CIO is now coming to Obama's assistance and attacking McCain.