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Group Aims to Boost Number of Latino Voters

An alliance of civic organizations says it will work to register 500,000 new Latino, Asian and immigrant voters before this year's presidential election. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has the story.

Group Aims to Boost Number of Latino Voters

An alliance of civic organizations says it will work to register 500,000 new Latino, Asian and immigrant voters before this year's presidential election. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has the story. The alliance, called We Are America , plans to target Latinos, Asians and immigrants under 25, newly naturalized citizens and those least likely to vote.

The 14 organizations will work in more than a dozen states, including California and critical swing states like New Mexico, Colorado and Florida.

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Eric Bernal with We Are America says the groups came together because there's lot is at stake for the immigrant community in this election.

Bernal: We know that our community is dealing with issues like the economy, concerns over the war in Iraq, concerned with health care and education and certainly immigration.

The massive mobilization effort comes as Latino voters shape up to be hot political property in this year's presidential election. Both major party presidential candidates are vying for Latino's support.

California has 4 million eligible Latino voters. That's about 20-percent of the state's voting population.

Amy Isackson, KPBS News.