Could labor issues hurt Democrats this election? According to new survey data from McLaughlin & Associates and the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, Democrats may suffer at the polls if labor issues like the so-called Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) become big election issues. EFCA would change the way that unions are organized, replacing a workers' right to a federally supervised, secret ballot with a new system in which workers simply sign a card--allowing the unions and their workers to see how each member voted. Generally, Democrats support EFCA, while Republicans oppose it--which is no surprise, given that unions also support EFCA and provide vital financial and organizational support to Democratic candidates. But the McLaughlin survey data--discussed in a conference call with reporters today--shows that most voters in three key U.S. Senate races this year are against EFCA. McLaughlin surveyed likely voters in Colorado, Maine, and Minnesota. In all three states, about two-thirds (68 percent in Colorado, 72 percent in Maine, and 65 percent in Minnesota) oppose EFCA, and over 70 percent in all three say that "having a federally supervised secret and private ballot election is the best way to protect workers' rights when organizing a union." The Democrats may be okay if EFCA doesn't become a major issue, but if it does, they have reason to worry: 44 percent of Colorado voters and 41 percent of Minnesota voters say they would be less likely to vote for the Democratic Senate candidate if he supports EFCA. And both ( Mark Udall in Colorado and Al Franken in Minnesota) do. (In Maine, Republican candidate and EFCA opponent Susan Collins has a strong lead.) What's worse news for Democrats? Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama strongly support EFCA.