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Clint Eastwood in an empty chairs takes it from union leader

Ohio delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte were treated to a replay of Clint Eastwood's imaginary conversation with President Obama in a empty chair that took place at the Republican convention in Tampa - this time with Eastwood in the empty chair.

Lee Saunders, a Cleveland native who is president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) gave an impassioned speech to the several hundred delegates gathered for the daily delegation breakfast at the Oasis Shriners Lodge, urging them to go "work your hearts out" for the re-election of President Obama this fall.

Near the end of his speech, Saunders dragged an empty chair next to the podium.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I want to give you Clint Eastwood,'' Saunders said.

"What do you have to say for yourself?,'' Saunders shouted at the empty chair. "Well he doesn't have anything to say. Mitt Romney doesn't have anything to say. Paul Ryan doesn't have anything to say."

Saunders ended his speech by kicking the chair over, tumbling it across the stage, as the crowd erupted in wild applause.

"OK,'' said Ohio Democratic Party chairman Chris Redfern as he took over the podium. "You know we have to pay a deposit on this furniture."

Howard Wilkinson is in his 50th year of covering politics on the local, state and national levels.