Hispanic outreach by Obama campaign 'historic' -- says Pena

Federico Pena sees "historic"
Hispanic outreach

Barack Obama’s national campaign co-chair Federico Pena says that a $20 million outreach to Hispanic voters is “historic” and will help secure an Obama victory on Election Day. 

The Democratic National Committee made the announcement today at a press conference with Sen. Ken Salazar. The money, which has not yet been earmarked, will be spent between now and November on advertising, voter registration as well as get-out-the-vote efforts aimed at Latinos. This comes after the Pew Hispanic Center recently released a survey showing that Obama had a 66%-23% lead over Republican rival Sen. John McCain.

McCain himself addressed the GI Forum, a group serving Hispanic military and their families, here last Friday. New Mexico  Gov. Bill Richardson, himself half-Hispanic, pinch-hit for Sen. Obama, delivering the message to the same group and other members of the Hispanic community that Obama “is one of us.”

Both parties are concentrating on this voting bloc. Pena observes that “we know that traditionally, Latinos are under-represented in the political process.” He also notes that this effort will be in addition to other voting drives already underway.”

Pena has brushed aside any speculation that he might be included on the ticket at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Denver, but insiders note that both he and Gov. Richardson would be considered strong candidates for key roles in an Obama cabinet.

However, Pena would only discuss the campaign in progress, saying that “while we won’t rest until after the election,” this announcement by the Democrats is “historic. It’s never been done by the DNC.”