From HispanicBusiness.com - November 15, 2007
Presidential hopeful Barack Obama is reaching out to young Hispanic voters via the popular Hispanic Web portal batanga.com.
Senator Obama is the first 2008 Presidential candidate to post a profile on MyBatanga, the social networking portion of the site. It’s part of a concerted effort by his campaign to win over Hispanics, who are increasingly being courted by candidates who recognize the power of the Hispanic vote.
Batanga aims to reach socially active, bicultural Hispanics, with content in both English and Spanish. The site has 4.5 million unique visitors per month and 200,000 registered users.
“Because our consumer is so socially aware, we believe it is important to give back and provide them with information that is relevant in their world, as they live it,” Batanga CMO Rick Marroquin said in a statement. “Providing access to the 2008 Presidential Election on Batanga is what the consumers want and in a voice that speaks to them and their issues.”
Senator Obama’s MyBatanga page includes biographical information, blogs, photos, video clips and comments from visitors. He has more online friends at batanga.com – 147 as of November 15 - than at any other Hispanic portal, the company says.
Senator Obama has secured endorsements from several influential Hispanics, including Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, also has her eye on Hispanic voters, and has chosen Raul Yzaguirre, former president of the National Council of La Raza, as her campaign co-chair.