PREZ POLITICS: John Edwards Outreach Efforts

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I have been appending the following para to SAJAforum items about the presidential race as well as to e-mails on the topic sent to the SAJA Discussion Lists:

SAJAforum is regularly sent press releases and other info by South Asian supporters of the Clinton and Obama campaigns. We have never heard from any of the other campaigns - Democratic or Republican. Do any of the other campaigns have South Asian outreach programs/coordinators? If you know folks who support these campaigns, please have them e-mail saja@columbia.edu

That drew a note that said: "...the Edwards campaign also have an outreach program for Asian Americans. Though it is not as developed and active as Clinton and Obama, it still exists:
http://johnedwards.com/issues/aapi/"

Seeing "AAPI," I thought that was a reference to one of the most powerful Indian-American organizations, American Association of Physcians of Indian Origin (represending 42,000 doctors). But it turns out it's the other AAPI - the official term for Census grouping of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

At the Edwards AAPI site, there's info about health care reform, immigration reform, and more. Everything there is aimed at the general Asian American community. The only item aimed at a specific community: "Edwards believes that all veterans who courageously served and defended our country should receive full benefits. He supports giving Filipino veterans the benefits they deserve."

In the "recent articles" section, there are four items about AAPI folks, but none of them are about South Asians in particular. I decided to check out one promising item, "National Asian American and Pacific Islander Leaders Endorse John Edwards for President." That page does have a few South Asians names among the endorsers:

• Gayatri Eassey (Seattle, Washington) - Former President of the Washington Young Democrats
• Lufte Hassan (Houston, Texas) - Chairman of the APEX Group
• Nomaan Husain (Houston, Texas) - Attorney, Young & Husain
• Amol Naik (Atlanta, Georgia) - Former Chief of Staff to the Georgia State Democratic Caucus
• Sushant Sidh (Baltimore, Maryland) - Former Deputy Chief of Staff of MD Governor Parris Glendening

If you know any of these folks or other South Asians working on the Edwards campaign, please have them contact saja[at]columbia.edu.

As always, we are looking for South Asian connections within the other campaigns, including the Republicans.

Post your comments below.