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Bill Clinton to endorse Indian American candidate for US Congressional seat

October 08, 2012 11:12 IST
Former United States President Bill Clinton will endorse Indian American Ami Bera, 45, the Democratic Party candidate for the US House of Representative, giving a big boost to his electoral prospects from California.

Clinton, according to Sacramento Bee, would endorse four Democrats running including Bera in some of the country's most closely watched congressional races.

Bera is contesting from California's 7th Congressional District, which is seen by political experts as one of the nation's most competitive.

Bera's parents immigrated to the US from India over 50 years ago.

Last week, Bera was endorsed by Sacramento Bee, the largest newspaper of the area.

"Bera has several qualities that would make him an able representative," the endorsement reads.

If elected Dr Bera would be only the third Indian American to ever be the member of the US House of Representatives after Dalip Singh Saund and Bobby Jindal.

In addition to Bera, four other Indian Americans are in the fray for Congress.

They are Upendra Chivukula from New Jersey, Ranjit "Rikky" Gill from California; Dr Manan Trivedi from Pennsylvania and Dr Syed Taj from Michigan.

Of these all are from the Democratic Party, except for Gill.

Lalit K Jha in Washington, DC
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