CHICAGO — President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign has named Katherine Archuleta as its political director, FOX News Channel confirmed Thursday.
Archuleta currently serves as Chief of Staff for Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and has 18 years of government experience. The Colorado native was expected to start the campaign job “within days,” a source told FOX News, adding that she will be the first Latina to hold such a position.
She acted as senior adviser to former Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and was the city’s lead planner for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Archuleta’s Colorado connection could be key for the Obama campaign. The battleground state backed Obama in 2008, after giving its votes to Republican former President George W. Bush in 2004.
Her appointment comes as President Obama heads to Puerto Rico next week courting Latino voters. According to the 2010 census, the Hispanic population of the United States grew 43 percent in the last 10 years.
The Latino vote will be essential to Obama’s reelection and Archuleta’s duties will include “political outreach and an emphasis on Hispanic community outreach,” a campaign source said.
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