Sen. Kennedy endorses Barack Obama for President

Senator Kennedy endorsed Senator Obama for president today calling him a "man with extraordinary gifts of leadership and character" and a worthy heir to his assassinated brother. "I feel change in the air," Kennedy said. Sign up today and help change the face of American politics.

Obama Wins Big in South Carolina Primary

Senator Barack Obama won the South Carolina Democratic primary with 53 percent of the ballots cast. Senator Clinton was running in second with 32 percent and John Edwards had 15 percent. The substantial margin of victory will give Senator Obama added momentum as he competes with Senator Clinton in the Feb. 5 round of voting involving 22 states, including California, Illinois and New York.

The Hispanic Vote Critical in This Election and for Decades to Come

According to Adam Nagourney and Jennifer Steinhauer's article in today's Politics section on the New York Times, "In Obama’s Pursuit of Latinos, Race Plays Role", in 2004 Hispanics accounted for 16 percent of the vote in the California primary; 11 percent in New York, 17 percent in Arizona and 9 percent in Florida. As such, it is clear that the Hispanic vote will be critical to any Democrat seeking to be elected in this election and for decades to come. Senator Obama is looking for volunteers to participate in letter writing campaigns or phone banking events. Sign up today and help change the face of American politics.

Senator McCaskill (D - Missouri) Endorses Senator Obama

Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri today endorsed Senator Obama’s presidential candidacy. According to Senator McCaskill, “It would be a terrible disappointment to our country if we didn’t grab this opportunity now.”

Senator Nelson (D - Nesbraska) Backs Obama

Senator Barack Obama won the endorsement today of U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska. This should give Senator Obama a huge lift in Nebraska's primary on February 9.

Kerry Endorses Obama

John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, endorsed Senator Barack Obama today in South Carolina. Kerry stated Martin Luther King always said that the time is always right to do what is right and now is the time for Barack Obama to be president of the United States. Volunteers interested in participating in letter writing campaigns or phone banking events in South Carolina (Jan. 26) please sign up immediately.

Obama "Fired Up" in New Hampshire

"I am still fired up and ready to go," Obama said last night after coming in second place in the New Hampshire Primary with 36% of the vote to Senator Clinton's surprising 39% of the vote. Senator Obama further stated that "A few weeks ago, no one could have imagined what we would do tonight in New Hampshire." Now is the time to focus on Michigan (Jan. 15), Nevada (Jan. 19), South Carolina (Jan. 26) and Florida (Jan. 29). Volunteers interested in participating in letter writing campaigns or phone banking events please sign up immediately.

Obama Leads in South Carolina

A recent Survey USA poll released this morning shows Barack Obama with a 20 point lead in South Carolina over Clinton even before the New Hampshire voting is finished. The poll shows Senator Obama with 50% and Clinton at 30% and Edwards at 16%. Moreover, according top the poll, 56% of Hispanics polled said they would vote for Senator Obama

New State Director for Nevada

We are very happy to announce that Paulina Palacios has accepted the role of Latinos for Obama State Director for the great state of Nevada! As we all know, Nevada plays a crucial role in the 2008 primary cycle, with its upcoming caucus on January 19, as the first state in the primary calendar with a significant Latino population.

Paulina lives and works in Nevada and has been active in professional circles there for some time. She is excited to take on this challenging role and looks forward to working with Andres Ramirez (Nevada Democrats Caucus liaison) and others in the Democratic party, the Obama campaign and other civic participation groups to make sure that as many Latinos and Latinas as possible caucus for Barack Obama.

If you live in Nevada, or live in a Western state and would like to help organize for the Nevada caucuses, please contact Paulina at paulina.palacios@LatinosForObama.com.

Prince William County

Last night I spent some time talking with Adalid, a hard working Bolivian immigrant, home owner and head of a large household in Prince William County, Virginia. Adalid has been following the primary cycle very closely. He watched the debates this last Saturday, both the Republican and Democratic debates.

He has watched previous debates and has misgivings about what the Republican party and others may or may not attempt to do in the Dirty Tricks category in the next several months. But most of all, he knows that the Republican party is not an option for members of the Latino community because of their narrow-minded and mean spirited actions and tactics employed during the immigration debates of the 2006 congressional cycle.

"Nos hirieron muy profundamente," explains Adalid.

But the Democratic party must not take the Latino vote for granted, as it did in 2004. Senior Democratic advisers to the Kerry campaign have long stated in Washington circles that the coordinated campaign did not do enough to court and turn out the Latino vote in that cycle. We cannot afford to repeat that mistake in 2008. Not because we need the Democratic candidate to win the election.

Because it's an investment in the future of the amount of political power that Latinos will be able to exercise on behalf of the party in the next 30 years, and on their own behalf.

GOP Now Focuses on Obama at Debate

It appears that the GOP candidates are gearing up for Barack Obama's now very viable run for the presidency. At he New Hampshire debate all the Republican candidates slammed the newly minted frontrunner as either too inexperienced or too liberal or both. However, Senator Obama's campaign focuses on change and it's time for Latinos to get involved and help Senator Obama change America.

Obama Looking Strong in New Hampshire

According to a CNN poll, Sen. Barack Obama has opened a double-digit lead over Sen. Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire. Obama, who won last week's Iowa caucuses, led the New York senator and former first lady 39 percent to 29 percent in a poll conducted Saturday and Sunday.