Washington, DC - Senator Barack Obama's Presidential campaign
together with the Democratic National Committee today announced an
unprecedented $20 million commitment to engaging and mobilizing
Hispanic voters for the November election at a press conference with
Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ),
Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-CA) and Congressman José Serrano
(D-NY). The historic announcement comes as a new Pew Hispanic Center
survey finds Senator Obama holding a strong lead, 66-23, over his
Republican rival John McCain among registered Hispanic voters. Today
only 26 percent of Hispanics identify as Republicans while 65 percent
say they are Democrats, a 39-point party ID gap. [Pew Hispanic Center,
7/24/08]
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus joined representatives of
the Obama campaign and the DNC for the official announcement, which
followed a briefing on the campaign's Hispanic outreach program for 150
Latino community leaders from around the country at Party headquarters.
"Senator Obama is honored to have earned a strong lead among Hispanic
voters, but neither he nor the Democratic Party is taking a single vote
for granted," said Frank Sanchez, Obama for America National Hispanic
Leadership Council Chairman. "We know we have a lot of work to do, and
this bold and unprecedented commitment to engaging and empowering
Hispanic voters in our political process is an important step toward
the November elections."
"This important commitment builds on the work we've done in the
Democratic Party over the past three years to engage Hispanic voters,
and to reject the Republican Party's politics of division," said DNC
Chairman Howard Dean. "Hispanics are often disproportionately affected
by the negative consequences of the failed Bush-McCain policies
affecting every American. Whether it's about John McCain's promise to
continue the same Bush economic policies that have led to a decline in
median income for Hispanic households and a rise in unemployment, or
the same foreign policy that has made Americans and our allies less
safe while emboldening anti-American sentiment across the globe,
Hispanic voters are looking for change."
The unprecedented $20 million commitment to engage and mobilize
Hispanics will include voter mobilization, voter registration, online
organizing, community outreach and paid advertising. Part of the effort
will also include "Camp Obama" trainings around the country, which will
empower Hispanics with the organizing tools and information they need
to engage and turn out voters in their home neighborhoods and states.
Both the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee also have
Hispanic staff involved at every level of the campaign, from field
organizers to senior roles.
Senator Barack Obama's campaign has already spent more on Hispanic
outreach than any presidential campaign before it, and now the Obama
campaign and the Democratic National Committee will join together in
this unprecedented initiative to continue promoting engagement and
mobilization among Hispanic voters and build on already overwhelming
Hispanic support for the Democratic party and Senator Obama.
"Hispanic voters are already seeing the contrast between Senator
McCain's campaign of the past and Senator Obama's campaign of change,
hope, and opportunity," said DNC Hispanic Caucus Chair Ramona Martinez,
"this remarkable commitment will help us continue to highlight that
contrast."
For Immediate Release |
Contact: Press Office |
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 |
|
ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, U.S. Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) issued the following statement on Hispanic outreach efforts:
"Unlike Barack Obama, John McCain doesn't need an introduction to the Hispanic Community. John McCain has been working for more than two decades for the values, principles and issues Latinos cares about. Hispanics will elect the next President of the United States based on who has the best record, experience and is better prepared to move this country forward. John McCain wants to keep taxes low for hardworking families, and small business owners, Barack Obama has stated he will raise taxes. John McCain has an energy plan, and wants to lower gas prices, Barack Obama has no plan. John McCain always put this country first, Barack Obama changes his mind depending on the political calendar."
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