India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Disenchanted by a slight meted out to them by the Obama Campaign Office, many Indian Americans in Illinois have decided to extend their support to rival Presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton. As a first step a group of Indian Americans headed by Raghu Nayak attended a fundraiser organized by the Hillary campaign office at Palmer House in Chicago downtown last week.

Among others attending the event were Dr Ram Gajela, Rajinder Bedi, Keerthi Ravoori, Ranjit Ganguly and Dr Arvind Kakodkar.Also visible were a number of Indians from the State of Punjab in India and this could be interpreted as a counter punch by Indians for describing Sen. Hillary Clinton as Democrat from the Punjab. Interestingly, the fundraiser also drew good support from Pakistani Americans as well as African Americans which again is indicative of the fact that race and borders are not a hindrance for Sen.

Hillary to broaden her support base.Sen. Hillary was in her elements while addressing a full house. At the outset she said that her candidature is not against any one in particular from the Democratic field but collectively they want to wrest White House from the Republican control as the Bush administration has brought the country's economy as also its image abroad to a low nadir.

"The country needs a change at the helm to bring it back to its glory and achieve things which we are capable of achieving," she said.Listing her priorities, she said that universal health care and revamping immigration policy are on the top of her list. Equally important is to provide free education at pre KG level and affordable education at the college level. She also said, "We have to win the trust and the confidence of our neighbors and Latino countries as also those disenchanted with our policy in Iraq."She said that the economy slide has to be arrested and reminded the 800 plus audience that the economy was booming six years ago.

"The administration could boast of surplus Budget. We need to bring that glory back," she said.Raghu Nayak, a community activist who had campaigned vigorously for the Indo-US Nuclear treaty, said that Sen. Hillary did support the deal after initial hesitation about proliferation. He also pointed out that she is among the firsts who had joined Friends of India group in the US Senate. She is a co-chair while Sen. Barack Obama has not even considered to join the Friends of India club despite saying so many times.