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Release Date: October 04, 2006
Media Contact: Dolly Kapoor at 571-722-4071 or dkapoor@usinpac.com
Internet Address: www.usinpac.com
 
USINPAC Prepared For 2008; Meeting with Sen. Bayh and other Presidential Candidates in New Hampshire Shows Growing Importance of the Indian American Community
 
 
Nashua, NH- On Sunday, Sept 24, 2006, New Hampshire grassroots members of the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) met US Senator and likely Presidential candidate Evan Bayh in an ongoing effort to ensure that the Indian American community is well positioned for the 2008 Presidential election. The effort is being led by Ms. Latha Mangipudi, a registered independent and the first Indian American woman elected to a public office in New Hampshire.   Ms. Mangipudi and her husband Krishnam hosted Senator Bayh at their home in Nashua, NH.  In attendance were several members of the New Hampshire Indian American community and elected officials from across the state.

After the event, Ms. Mangipudi said, "The goal is to meet every Presidential candidate, both Republicans and Democrats, and let them know that we are active and very involved in New Hampshire." She continued, "Our votes and our views should be taken seriously."

Several New Hampshire political insiders who are sought after by Presidential candidates attended the event, including Deputy State House Democratic Leader Jane Clemons, State House Democratic Whip Bette Lasky, State Senator David Gottesman, Congressional candidate Paul Hodes, and numerous candidates for the New Hampshire State House of Representatives.

In the past few months, the New Hampshire USINPAC grassroots have met former President Bill Clinton, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Governor Tom Vilsack of Iowa, former Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, and will be meeting Senator John Kerry in late October. USINPAC plans on meeting all of the Republican Presidential candidates including Senator John McCain, Senator Bill Frist, Senator Sam Brownback, Governor Mitt Romney, Mayor Rudolph Guliani, and others during their upcoming visits to New Hampshire.

"I have already seen the major difference our community's efforts have made. When Senator Biden met our community, he was showcasing his skill in foreign policy by discussing the intricacies of US-India relations. When Governor Vilsack met our community, he boasted of the success of his recent trade mission to India," said Mangipudi. "In a small state like New Hampshire, the candidates know that our votes are important, and we are going to make sure they understand our issues before we give them our votes."

New Hampshire and Iowa are the most important states to Presidential candidates because they are the first two states to vote in the Presidential nomination process. History has proven that a strong showing in Iowa and New Hampshire is critical for Presidential candidates, and the small populations of both states force them to work for every vote.