Presidential Campaign Update
April 25, 2008
The APA Coalition for John McCain is having an active week. Filipino Americans have been meeting in New York City to support the campaign, and meetings were held in Memphis and Phoenix as well. Some APA supporters in the health care field will be attending McCain’s speeches this week in Florida to hear his ideas on health reform.
Illinois coalition members have been preparing for APA Heritage Month activities with the leadership of Jimmy Lee and Steve Kim.
A strong advocate for the community and small business, Howard Li of New York has been organizing and preparing for the upcoming fall elections, especially focusing on the high density Asian American population in Flushing.
The Pacific Islanders have been very active, especially in the insular areas. Pacific Islander community leaders David Cohen, Phil Mendiola Long, Henry Taitano and Juan Carlos Benitez have been active strengthening the APA Coalition for John McCain.
The coalition is also gearing up to showcase McCain’s support for the APA community with events and meetings during May’s annual APA Heritage Month. Contact Kishan Putta (kputta@mccain 08hq.com) to get involved.
— Rudy Pamintuan
After Pennsylvania, Barack Obama continues to lead the primary race in delegates, the popular vote and number of states won.
Sen. Obama continues to inspire thousands of new voters in Pennsylvania — voters who will be crucial in the general election when the electorate chooses between the Republican flag bearer of old Washington and Obama, who represents a new and better path. Anna Perng, Matthew Chea, Nina Ahmad, Van Tamom and the entire Pennsylvania Asian Americans for Obama team did an outstanding job.
In the Bay Area, we’re holding a grassroots party with Latinos, AAPIs and South Asians for Obama on Thursday, May 1, from 7-9 p.m. at Roe Restaurant at 651 Howard Street. Georgia McCauley, a close friend of Barack’s mother and a leader of Democrats Abroad, will share memories about Barack growing up in Hawai‘i. She’ll also show a DVD with rare footage from Obama’s family and childhood.
Obama supporter Janet Yang, producer of films like Joy Luck Club, opens her new film Dark Matter next weekend in San Francisco. A screening afterparty will be held on Saturday, May 3, at 9 p.m. at Hukilau at 5 Masonic Avenue.
E-mail go@apaforobama.com for more information about either event.
— Cate Park and Keith Kamisugi
Yes, she can. Yes, she will. Hillary is back on track, winning the Pennsylvania primary 55 to 45 percent.
The campaign raised nearly $3 million in the hours after the win, and the focus will be on building up coffers for the next states. She was outspent 3 to 1 and still pulled out a much-needed win in this state with 158 pledged delegates at stake.
AAPIs for Hillary members across the U.S. kept calling Democrats in the Keystone State to solidify support. Irene Bueno, Brad Baldia, Villa Mills and Abu Rahman organized an AAPI rally with Chelsea Clinton over the weekend.
Steve Ko, founder of aapiforhillary.com with wife Dr. Sophia Yen, has done some interesting analysis on the site, looking at electoral votes won by Hillary in red, blue and swing states. Indeed, Hillary’s electoral vote strength has been touted by Hillary-backer and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, whose state’s primary comes up on May 6.
Seven states and two territories still have contests ahead, the last contest being Montana on June 3.
Junelle Cavero began setting up efforts in Oregon over a week ago, and AAPIs for Hillary members are having a hard time keeping up with her energy.
— Julie D. Soo
Comments
Got something to say?