Obama campaign reaches out to Indian Americans
February 24th, 2012 - 3:35 pm ICT by IANS
Washington, Feb 24 (IANS) President Barack Obama, whose administration has by far the largest number of Indian-Americans, has again turned to three prominent members of this growing and influential community to help his re-election campaign reach out to some three million Indian-origin voters.
The three, actor Kalpen Modi (aka Kal Penn), California’s first female Attorney General, Kamala Harris and Sai Iyer, who served as a White House intern in 201, figure among 35 state, local and community leaders named as national co-chairs, or “ambassadors” for the president, who will play a high-profile role in defending his record and mobilising voters for November.
“The president’s national co-chairs will be tremendous assets on the ground as we build the biggest grassroots campaign in history,” Obama’s campaign manager, Jim Messina said in a statement.
“They each share the President’s vision for a future where every American can have a fair shot at success, where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded,” Messina said.
The list includes current and former Democratic members of Congress, governors and mayors, as well as business and labor leaders, members of clergy and a few local campaign organizers, a nod to the value Obama places on his grassroots volunteers.
Kamala Harris, daughter of a Tamil mother and a Jamaican American father and Sai Iyer, a student at the Virginia Commonwealth University and OFA (Obama For America) volunteer leader from Virginia will play key roles with former White House chiefs of staff Bill Daley and Rahm Emanuel.
Actor Kalpen Modi, who served as White House Associate Director for the Office of Public Engagement. is expected to lead outreach to younger voters, while actress Eva Longoria will spearhead efforts to reach women and Hispanics.
And despite Modi and Longoria, there are few big Hollywood stars, such as George Clooney or Jay-Z, whom the campaign had reportedly sought to enlist.
Bruce Springsteen, who stumped for Obama in 2008, said last week he won’t be hitting the campaign trail for Obama this time, but still supports his re-election.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
- Obama ropes in 3 Indian Americans for re-election campaign - Feb 24, 2012
- Obama campaign reaches out to Indian Americans (Lead) - Feb 24, 2012
- Eva Longoria and Kal Penn join Obama's re-election campaign - Feb 24, 2012
- Kal Penn makes a four letter call: "Vote" - Sep 05, 2012
- Indian-Americans get prime spots at US presidential conventions - Aug 21, 2012
- President Obama Spends 49th Birthday Home Alone - Aug 04, 2010
- Obama donors can enter raffle for dinner with Eva Longoria - Dec 23, 2011
- Indian origin Kal Pen re-joins White House job after filming 'Harold & Kumar' sequel - Nov 16, 2010
- Obama likely to seek re-election: White House - Jan 21, 2011
- Kal Penn returns to White House - Nov 17, 2010
- Obama to launch 2012 re-election campaign this week - Apr 03, 2011
- White House celebrates Guru Nanak's birth anniversary (Lead) - Nov 20, 2010
- Obama names Bombay IIT graduate to key post - Sep 01, 2012
- Aneesh Chopra, Obama's Indian American IT head, quits - Jan 28, 2012
- Romney picks conservative Paul Ryan as running mate - Aug 11, 2012
Tags: bill daley, bruce springsteen, campaign organizers, chiefs of staff, co chairs, democratic members, eva longoria, female attorney, george clooney, indian origin, jim messina, kamala harris, national co, profile role, public engagement, rahm emanuel, s vision, virginia commonwealth university, volunteer leader, white house chiefs of staff