The two-million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today announced that it will inject more than $75 million into operations on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama in Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia, all states that President Bush carried in 2004. The plan is seen as indicative of a stepped up role of unions in this year’s election cycle, and supportive of the Obama campaign’s strategy to compete in state’s traditionally written off as Republican. The commitment comes at a particular welcome time for the Obama campaign, whose major fundraising advantage over opponent Sen. John McCain has recently slowed.

The S.E.I.U., which has been involved on Obama’s behalf since its endorsement in February, will additionally increase campaign operations in Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan in support of Obama as well as gubernatorial and congressional candidates.

“Our members are incredibly excited about the electoral process,” said S.E.I.U. Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger. “We expect to be the most aggressive union on the ground and on the air across the country.”

The S.E.I.U. represents workers in more than 100 occupational fields, including health care, public service, and property services.