Armenians for Obama Welcomes Launch of
Obama-Biden Armenian American National
Leadership Committee

October 17, 2008
CHICAGO, IL – The Obama-Biden campaign today announced the formation of a dozen European and Mediterranean American National Leadership Committees – including an Armenian American National Leadership Committee – a move warmly welcomed by Armenians for Obama, the nationwide voter registration, education, and mobilization effort dedicated to electing Barack Obama President.

The campaign's Armenian American outreach is being led by U.S. Representatives Anna Eshoo, Jackie Speier, and Adam Schiff, California Assemblymember Paul Krekorian, and former South Carolina Democratic Party Chairperson Richard Harpootlian. The launch of 12 committees, comprised of prominent leaders from across the country – Governors, Senators, Members of Congress, diplomats, labor leaders and others – was announced earlier today in a nationwide conference call featuring senior Obama-Biden campaign officials. Formally accepting these endorsements was Obama-Biden campaign co-chairman Tom Daschle, who was joined in offering welcoming remarks by Jim Messina, the campaign's chief of staff.

Commenting on today's announcement, Senator Obama said: “I'm honored to receive the support of these European and Mediterranean Americans. As immigrants and the descendants of immigrants, European and Mediterranean Americans have a deep commitment to their families and their communities. And like all Americans, they want an economy that creates jobs and restores opportunity, a quality education for their children, affordable and accessible health care – the very promise that their children's tomorrows will be better than their yesterdays. I am running for President to restore that promise and put the American Dream within reach for them and for all Americans.”

"As a proud Armenian American serving in the U.S. Congress, I've been tremendously encouraged by the growing enthusiasm around the country for the Obama-Biden campaign among Armenian American voters,” said U.S. Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, after the launch of the national leadership committee.

The 12 different national leadership committees are: Albanian Americans, Arab Americans, Armenian Americans, Croatian Americans, Greek Americans, Hungarian Americans, Irish Americans, Italian Americans, Polish Americans, Serb Americans, Slovenian Americans, and Ukrainian Americans. Commenting on the vital role of the Armenian American community's support for Obama-Biden, during the conference call, the campaign formally extended its thanks to Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America and Areen Ibranossian, Chairman of Armenians for Obama.

Based in Los Angeles, and with chapters and affiliates across the nation, Armenians for Obama is harnessing the energy and enthusiasm for Barack Obama 's candidacy to ensure record high Armenian American turnout in critical battleground states.

To view/print an Obama/McCain comparison one-page, visit:
http://armeniansforobama.com/obama_vs_mccain.php

To read Senator Obama's pledges on Armenian Americans issues, visit:
http://www.armeniansforobama.com/armenian_issues.php

To view Samantha Power's remarks in support of Senator Obama, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yNt7XsV-Dg

To read “McCain's Armenia Problem” in The Atlantic, visit:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200810u/armenian-american-vote