Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress from Illinois’ 8th District who is already a front runner in the race, got a massive boost from the recent endorsement he had received from President Obama, with his urge to voters in the state of Illinois to get out and vote for his “good friend Raja Krishnamoorthi,” in a special video prepared for the Indian-American candidate.
The video begins with President Obama seated in a chair in the White House, saying, “Hi, this is Barack Obama asking you to vote for my good friend Raja Krishnamoorthi for Congress.” The President’s voice continues as scenes of Krishnamoorthi’s past interactions with him flash by as do scenes from the candidate’s campaign. “When I ran for the U.S. Senate, Raja helped me develop ideas for building an economy that works for everyone,” the President says. “Now Raja’s plans will help small businesses grow, raise wages, and help families pay for college.” The President returns to the screen to remind voters, ” The polls are open now, so don’t waste a minute. Vote Raja Krishnamoorthi for Congress. Thanks.”
As per reports, the video has gone out to tens of thousands of voters in the 8th District via email, and to multiples more through social media and the Internet, Krishnamoorthi said. “It’s pretty special,” Krishnamoorthi told News India Times. “At first we had just requested a voice recording. But he went ahead and made a video message. So it’s much more than we asked for,” Krishnamoorthi added.
Krishnamoorthi sees the 28- second video as a big plus for his campaign. “It’s directed toward people who are likely to vote. I want to get a chance to talk to those voters,” he said. Krishnamoorthi served as issues director for Barack Obama’s successful United States Senate campaign in 2004. He was raised in Peoria, Illinois, earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in mechanical engineering from Princeton University and graduated with honors from Harvard Law School.
He clerked for a federal judge in Chicago, was Illinois’s Deputy Treasurer, and in 2006, he was appointed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to serve as Special Assistant Attorney General in her Public Integrity Unit. He also served as a member of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, where he was chairman of the Audit Committee. He was formerly Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Innovation Council. He currently serves as president of Sivananthan Labs and Episolar, Inc., small businesses that sell products in the national security and renewable energy industries.
Meanwhile, the Indian American community has been working hard to ensure his victory. In an event organized in support of the promising Indian American candidate, Sanhita Agnihotri invited Raja Krishnamoorthi along with the principal hosts Hanumanth Reddy, Iftekhar Shareef, Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, Ajai Agnihotri, Dr. Vijay Prabhakar and Ajeet Singh to join the lamp lighting ceremony and added saying that the lighting of the lamp symbolizes invocation of an auspicious outcome in the elections.
Raja Krishnamoorthi in his rare departure shifting from the standards electoral stump speech went on to deliver a passionate impromptu address on his progressive vision igniting fervor among Indian Americans who are energized to propel him to a place in the U.S. Congress. Raja connected intimately with each attendee and addressed them with great clarity and unmistakable conviction addressing a wide range of issues affecting the nation. Raja elaborated on his legislative priorities that includes shoring up Social Security, Medicare, raising the minimum wage nationally, making college more affordable, creating jobs, improving economy, reforming immigration system, improving American infrastructure among some major issues. Raja Krishnamoorthi also addressed businessmen and their causes; and allayed fears on harsh regulations and untenable tax burdens.
Raja Krishnamoorthi thanked the host of community, organizational, business and grass- root level leaders gathered at the event and assured them of his undying devotion to represent them and added saying “when I go to the Congress, you go with me” amidst sustained applause.
Ajai Agnihotri in his brief statement said Raja is a phenomenon that is likely to dominate the Capitol Hill with his refreshing voice of strength and conviction; while Dr. Vijay Prabhakar challenged the Indian Americans to seize this rare opportunity to rise up in collective strength of unity to help elect Raja and added that Raja will be a shining inspiration for many generations to come.
Proposing a vote of thanks, Sanhita Agnihotri was joined by Poonam Gupta-Krishnan, Nazneen Hashmi, Shirley Kalvakota, and Mrs. Inder Gauri who presented a flower bouquet to Raja. Some of the well-known attendees at the reception include Dr. Sriram Sonty, Babu [Marsha] Patel, Inder Gauri, Jitendra Digvanker, Harish Kolasani, John Trivedi, Dr. Hyder Mohhamned, Cecil Joseph, Satish Dadepogu, Baba Daljit Singh, Mitul Patel, Azhar Siddique & Emmanuel Neela.
With the current trajectory of the congressional race looking increasingly reassuring, this defining moment seems to bear promise to see their beloved Indian American son Raja Krishnamoorthi to be ushered into the hallowed halls of the United States Congress. Raja Krishnamoorthi remains the most widely acknowledged candidate to have received a wide spread mainstream newspapers ringing endorsements hailing him as the “best candidate hands down” and extoling him for his “enthusiastic grasp on issues” advancing “working families agenda”; with President Obama joining to give a testimonial push on TV — augurs well for him to cross the finish line on in the national elections on November 8th, 2016.
Picture Caption: Raja Krishnamoorthi seen here with the hosts [L to R seated] Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, Iftekhar Shareef, Sanhita Agnihotri, Ajai Agnihotri, Keerthi Ravoori [Standing L to R] Shirley Kalvakota, Poonam Gupta, Nazneen Hashmi, Daljit Singh, Babu Patel & Dr. Hyder Mohammed.