Stars are in President Barack Obama's eyes as he shifts his campaign into high gear. Team Obama’s appointment of 35 re-election committee co-chairs reflects not only Obama's strengths among Hollywood celebrities and voters but also where his campaign advisers hope to extend his influence, according to
The Hollywood Reporter.
Eva Longoria, a longtime supporter of the president, is among several Latinos named co-chairs. Obama is hoping to benefit from their high-profile endorsements and fund-raising abilities with other actors.
Another notable is Kal Penn of “Harold and Kumar” fame. Penn gave up the Hollywood scene for a time when he served as associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
The president's advisers also hope the celebrities' influence with Latino voters, the majority of whom voted for him in 2008, will offset the president's lack of leadership on immigration reform and economic turmoil in this year's election, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Other Latinos tapped to help Obama are San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, Los Angeles Chief Executive Antonio Villaraigosa, and local labor leader Maria Elena Durazo of the AFL-CIO.
Hoping to shore up his base in the state, Obama also added six California leaders as co-chairs.
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