PREZ RACE: Clinton, McCain, Obama to address Asian American in virtual town hall

A note from Democratic strategist Toby Chaudhuri: "SAJA members might find this particularly interesting. All the presidential candidates just confirmed their participation in a national forum with Asian American voters scheduled for this evening. The event will be streamed online at Punjabi Community Hour Inc. at http://www.passionfortruthtv.com. (Punjabi Community Hour Inc. and Passion for Truth produces two television channels with programming regarding Sikh issues.) The presidential town hall is historic. I'm including a detailed news advisory below. Please be advised."

MEDIA ADVISORY:
SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2008
CONTACT: Toby Chaudhuri, 978-884-8626 or Naomi Tacuyan, 202-460-2644

CLINTON, OBAMA, McCAIN TO ADDRESS THOUSANDS OF ASIAN AMERICANS AT TOWN HALL FORUM TODAY

With Thousands Of Asian American Voters Gathered And Logged In, Presidential Candidates To Make Their Pitch

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will address thousands of Asian American voters by satellite and teleconference on Saturday. More than 2000 Asian American leaders and activists will gather across the country to discuss solutions to problems facing their community with all the major presidential candidates. Participants plan to gather in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, Colorado, New Jersey, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts and throughout California.

The presidential town hall, sponsored by APIAVote, is historic for Asian Americans who represent the fastest growing minority group in the U.S. Studies show that almost one in five US-born Asian-American voters have donated to a political campaign, larger than any other racial community. More importantly, as a bloc, their votes could make a decisive impact in key states this year.

APIAVOTE PRESIDENTIAL TOWN HALL

SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2008
*All Times Eastern*

7 p.m.              Sen. Hillary Clinton addresses thousands of Asian American voters and answers questions via satellite. Sen. Clinton will be introduced by Calif. State Controller John Chiang.

7:30 p.m.         Sen. John McCain addresses thousands of Asian American voters and answers questions by teleconference. Sen. McCain will be introduced by Calif. State Assemblyman Van Tran.

8 p.m.              Sen. Barack Obama addresses thousands of Asian American voters and answers questions by teleconference. Sen. Obama will be introduced by Rep. Xavier Becerra.

**NOTE: Media representatives interested in watching the forum remotely may do so online. The event will stream live on http://www.imdiversity.com/townhall.asp and http://wwwpassionfortruthtv.com. For more details about the presidential town hall and local events across the country, please visit www.apiavote.org or here.

Local events are scheduled in the following locations:
--Berkeley, Calif.

--Irvine, Calif.

--Santa Barbara, Calif.

--Denver, Colo.

--North Miami, Fla.

--Chicago, Ill.

--Boston, Mass.

--Southfield, Mich.

--Edison, N.J.

--Columbus, Ohio

--Philadelphia, Pa.

--Houston, Texas