Latinos come out for Obama

[jefferson_dem]

Article published Feb 1, 2008
Latinos come out for Obama
By SUNITA VIJAYAN
The Salinas Californian

Several Latino community leaders from the Central Coast joined together Thursday in Salinas to publicly endorse Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"It's because of the change that (Barack) Obama brings to the political scene," said Carlos Ramos, a voting-rights activist and president of the Monterey chapter of the League Of United Latin American Citizens. "He has the wherewithal, energy and vision to move our country forward. To me, it's a no-brainer."

Ramos and four other community leaders made their announcement at the Obama campaign's new Salinas call center, 545 E. Alisal St.

Their endorsement came just over a week after the United Farm Workers endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obama's chief rival for the Democratic nomination, during her campaign stop at Hartnell College in Salinas. The UFW has been a leading voice in Latino-American empowerment since its founding by civil-rights leader César Chávez in the 1960s.

Presidential candidates from both the Republican and Democratic parties have been aggressively courting the Latino vote. For example, Mitt Romney's Republican campaign has been airing TV commercials in Spanish throughout the state.

For the Clinton campaign, the UFW will continue its public support by forming a "human billboard" at 4 p.m. Monday in the Food Co. parking lot at 1030 E. Alisal St., Salinas.

Joining Ramos in the Obama announcement were Maria Buell and Omar Mercado, LULAC; district director and deputy district director, respectively; Juan Uranga, director of the Center for Community Advocacy, which works for better farm-worker housing; and Luis Alejo, who sits on Watsonville Planning Commission. The group praised Obama's stances on issues including education reform, immigration and health care, including a plan to offer health insurance to all Americans.

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http://www.thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/NEWS01/802010302/1002