Indian Americans launch campaign to garner support for Obama

Indian American supporters of US President Barack Obama have kicked off a nationwide grass root campaign to garner support from the community members for his re-election bid in 2012.

South Asians for Obama (SAFO), which was among the first few Indian American groups in 2007 to come out in support of Obama, months after he announced his presidential campaign, this month launched its website – www.Safo2012.Com – and have formed chapters in more than half a dozen state.

"In cities and neighbourhoods across the country, we are working to engage our entire community to take a more active role in the political process," SAFO said in its first posting on its website.

"Progress doesn't happen in a moment. It happens in a movement," said Parag Mehta, South Asian activist and former public liaison to the Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) communities during the Obama-Biden transition.

"Three years ago, we built that movement and we've got to keep it going to re-elect our President," Mehta said atan event recently.

 Nina Ahmad, a member of the SAFO Leadership Council and the organiser of the event, noted that although the 2012 reelection would be even more difficult than in 2008, it will take even more energy and dedication from the diverse voices in the room to re-elect the President who values their differences.