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| Hawaii's Sen. Mazie Hirono stumped for Democratic candidates in Nevada. |
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO, D-HI, interrupted her own campaign to be reelected as senator for Hawaii to encourage voters in Nevada to trek to the polls to make a difference.
With just days before the Nov. 6 midterm elections -- and with early voting already going on -- Calfornia's Sen. Kamala Harris has joined the parade of Democratic "names" to encourage the Democratic vote, particular AAPI voters who make up about 10 percent of the electorate and who could prove to be the determining factor in the elections.
Among the goals of the two Asian American senators is to unseat GOP incumbent U.S. Sen. Dean Heller and to encourage a vote for Democratic challenger Jackie Rosen. The Democrats are trying to shift the balance of power in the U.S. Senate now currenlty made up of 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats.
Former residents of Hawaii -- many of them Filipino Americans -- are so numerous in Nevada that it has become an inside islander joke that Las Vegas is Hawaii's ninth island.
Hirono told Balitang America that the Filipino votes count — especially on important issues affecting the immigrant community such as healthcare and family reunification.
“I hope everybody is gonna be voting for Jackie Rosen because everybody cares about healthcare. Right now this administration is pushing for pre-existing condition. If you ask any family Filipino whatever one out of 4 have pre-existing condition.”
“Everywhere I go I know who I am I know, what I’m fighting for I listened to those voices and I’m gonna take those stories with me.”
“Filipinos are small business owners, they are caretakers, they are nurses. They are vital part of the community and its important to vote,” said Susie Lee.
Filipino Americans make up almost half of the state's Asian American population.
"We are the biggest Asian community population here in Nevada," said Cynthia Diriquito, Executive Director of NAFFAA Nevada.
The National Federation of Filipino-American Associations estimates there are about 120,000 Filipino Americans living in Nevada, but many of them aren't registered voters.
After holding a rally in Reno and Sparks, Harris joined a rally in Las Vegas speaking at UNLV trying to drum up support for Nevada Democrats up and down the ticket.
“If it’s worth fighting for, it’s a fight worth having,” Harris said. “Health care is worth fighting for. Immigrants are worth fighting for. A criminal justice system that’s not broken is worth fighting for. Working people are worth fighting for. Climate change is worth fighting for. Science is worth fighting for. There is so much on the line.”
Harris started her day with a 9 a.m. breakfast Friday at DW Bistro before visiting the Expertise Cosmetology Institute. Later in the day Harris stopped by a Democratic Party field office in North Las Vegas.
The senator was joined by several candidates, including congressional and statewide candidates Steve Sisolak, Steven Horsford, Susie Lee, Nelson Araujo, Aaron Ford and Kate Marshall.
Earlier in October, former President Barack Obama visited the state to urge Nevada's voters early voters to cast their votes for Democrats.
“I hope everybody is gonna be voting for Jackie Rosen because everybody cares about healthcare. Right now this administration is pushing for pre-existing condition. If you ask any family Filipino whatever one out of 4 have pre-existing condition.”
“Everywhere I go I know who I am I know, what I’m fighting for I listened to those voices and I’m gonna take those stories with me.”
“Filipinos are small business owners, they are caretakers, they are nurses. They are vital part of the community and its important to vote,” said Susie Lee.
Filipino Americans make up almost half of the state's Asian American population.
"We are the biggest Asian community population here in Nevada," said Cynthia Diriquito, Executive Director of NAFFAA Nevada.
The National Federation of Filipino-American Associations estimates there are about 120,000 Filipino Americans living in Nevada, but many of them aren't registered voters.
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| SCREEN CAPTURE / C-SPAN |
After holding a rally in Reno and Sparks, Harris joined a rally in Las Vegas speaking at UNLV trying to drum up support for Nevada Democrats up and down the ticket.
“If it’s worth fighting for, it’s a fight worth having,” Harris said. “Health care is worth fighting for. Immigrants are worth fighting for. A criminal justice system that’s not broken is worth fighting for. Working people are worth fighting for. Climate change is worth fighting for. Science is worth fighting for. There is so much on the line.”
Harris started her day with a 9 a.m. breakfast Friday at DW Bistro before visiting the Expertise Cosmetology Institute. Later in the day Harris stopped by a Democratic Party field office in North Las Vegas.
The senator was joined by several candidates, including congressional and statewide candidates Steve Sisolak, Steven Horsford, Susie Lee, Nelson Araujo, Aaron Ford and Kate Marshall.
Earlier in October, former President Barack Obama visited the state to urge Nevada's voters early voters to cast their votes for Democrats.
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SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS
President Barack Obama appealed to voters at the beginning of Nevada's early voting. |
“Look, this November’s elections are more important than any I can remember in my lifetime, and that includes when I was on the ballot,” Obama said. “That’s saying something. Politicians say every time, ‘This is the most important election.’ This one is really that important.”
Obama continued: “The consequences of anybody here, not turning out and doing everything you can to get your friends, neighbors, family to turn out, the consequences of you staying home would be profoundly dangerous to this country, to our democracy,” he said.
Nevada polls' hours on Nov. 6 are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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