Bean's votes to lift restrictions on trade, particularly her support for the Central America Free Trade Organization, have won plaudits and donations from business interests while alienating some labor supporters. The chamber gave her a score of 73 percent for her votes in 2005, the same year the AFL-CIO gave her a ranking of 62 percent.

Bean spokesman Brian Herman says the endorsement does not detract from her support for union members. "She has very much a moderate pragmatic record,"he says, "and she has support from the local labor community and the support of local business."

The Illinois AFL-CIO declined to endorse Bean after her vote for CAFTA. And the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor withdrew an award meant for her, although she won their endorsement.

Republican nominee Dave McSweeney says Bean won the endorsement "by selling her own supporters down the river." McSweeney, a former investment banker, says he still feels confident in his support from the local business community.

Third party candidate Bill Scheurer, who relied largely on disaffected union members to collect the signatures necessary to qualify for the ballot, says the endorsement is another sign of Bean's support for big business over working families.

--Will Sullivan