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Governor Bill Richardson to Address Arab American Institute's National Leadership Conference
AAI
Posted on Monday October 8, 2007
New Mexico Governor is First Democratic Candidate to Announce Participation in Conference Since AAI Received DNC Exception
Democratic presidential candidate and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has confirmed that he will address the Arab American Institute’s National Leadership Conference (NLC) “Our Voice, Our Future: Yalla Vote ‘08”. The NLC takes place October 26-28 in Dearborn, Michigan and Richardson will speak on the conference’s closing day, Sunday, October 28.
Richardson is the first Democratic candidate to announce his participation since AAI was granted an exception from the Democratic parties in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada, allowing presidential candidates to speak at the event.
The national gathering, which takes place before every presidential election, was placed in jeopardy after Michigan moved up its primary date and candidates signed the “four-state pledge” promising not to campaign states that broke Democratic rules governing the primaries. More on AAI’s exception can be found at:
“We’re very pleased that Governor Richardson is the first of those who signed the pledge to confirm his attendance at the National Leadership Conference. His extensive experience at all levels of government makes his voice an important one,” said AAI President James Zogby. “The question now is: will the other candidates follow his lead? Our community’s perspective is too important to be ignored. We deserve to hear from the candidates and we have much to say to them.”
