By Nandita Bose
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - "Biden nominee Julie Su wants to turn the lights off" reads a billboard in West Virginia; another in Montana warns that Su, U.S. President Joe Biden's nominee for labor secretary, will turn the state into California; in Arizona, the message is, "Su's gig could be destroying your gig."
In addition to these, newspaper and digital advertisements will start appearing with more frequency in these states as her confirmation hearing date set for April 20 approaches. The White House and the administration have been touting Su's history of fighting for underpaid workers, while industry groups against her policies have begun to aggressively oppose her.
Su, a civil rights lawyer, former California labor commissioner, head of the state's sprawling labor agency and child of Chinese immigrants, needs at least 50 votes in a Senate where Democrats have a slim 51-49 majority.
Support of all Democrats and Independents is not a given, and several industry officials told Reuters they believe Su will have a tough time getting confirmed.
Industry groups are focusing their campaign on Montana, Arizona and West Virginia, as they worry Su would push nationwide policies that are similar to what she oversaw in California where she supported laws such as the one that classified some gig workers as employees, which some businesses claim impacted their ability to rely on freelancers.
White House spokesperson Emilie Simons said the administration is "currently...
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