Globe Gazette - Obama and Women Voters

News Article

Globe Gazette Des Moines Bureau

The campaign for Democrat Barack Obama will roll out "Women for Obama" leaders in 50 Iowa counties today.

The announcement comes in conjunction with this month's Women's Equality Day, which commemorates women getting the right to vote. The campaign has scheduled 30 "Women for Obama" meetings in communities across the state.

Kelli Masters, an Obama supporter and Democrat from Waterloo, is heading up the effort in Black Hawk County.

Masters, a 34-year-old freelance Web developer, said she's committed to women's rights, and is backing Obama rather than Hillary Clinton.

"There's just something about him that Hillary does not have. And I can't really explain what it is, but I know that he has a passion that we really need," Masters said.

Women for Obama leaders will reach out to other female voters through canvassing, postcard campaigns and direct conversations.

"This is truly a grassroots effort of women organizing other women in their communities around Sen. Obama's campaign to challenge the status quo and change Washington," said Obama campaign spokeswoman Gannet Tseggai.

RICHARDSON OUTREACH TO LATINOS — Democrat Bill Richardson is set to announce his Latino outreach program today at a news conference in Las Vegas.

The New Mexico governor is the first of the 2008 presidential candidates to launch an outreach program for Latinos, according to the campaign.

"It is a quintessential example of grassroots politics, with the aim to involve a large number of families in the political process," a statement from Richardson's campaign said. "Latinos currently comprise around 14 percent of the U.S. population, making them the largest ethnic minority group in our country. Gov. Richardson, as a Latino himself, is well aware of the Latino community's increasing importance in American society."

Source