Obama Launches Massive Latino Voter Drive

By Daniel W. Reilly

(The Politico)  Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign launched a massive $20 million effort to attract Latino voters on Tuesday, hoping to erase the inroads the Republican Party has made with the key demographic group in the last two presidential elections.

Frank Sanchez, the chairman of the Obama for America National Hispanic Leadership Council, said the unprecedented effort will focus on paid advertising, online organizing, increased staffing in Latino communities and organizing surrogates to hit the campaign trail.

Sanchez said efforts will be particularly focused in the key swing states of Nevada, Florida, New Mexico and Colorado, where Latino voters could make up the margin of victory.

Obama advisers launched the effort at the Democratic National Committee along with Colorado Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar and a handful of other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

One of the fastest growing demographic groups in the country, Latinos are being courted aggressively by both campaigns.

According to a new poll conducted by The Pew Hispanic Center, Obama leads McCain among Latinos 66 percent to McCain's 23 percent.

“The giant has woken up and we are being prodded by the Obama campaign,” said Rep. Hilda Solis, an early supporter of Obama’s primary opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton, who now says she is firmly in the Obama camp.
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