Obama Caught Between Schools Reform, Striking Teachers

A strike by Chicago teachers creates a political hazard for President Barack Obama, as he counts on the support of organized labor while trying to appeal to independent voters who tend to favor some of the education policies central to the conflict.

The walkout, which is keeping more than 350,000 students out of classrooms for a second day today, also draws attention to the continuing debate over public-employee unions and the cost of their benefits to taxpayers. The Chicago school system has a deficit of about $700 million.