WASHINGTON : Swati Dandekar, Iowa State Co-Chair of the John Kerry Presidential Campaign, says she is convinced that Kerry is the best candidate to be the next U.S. President.

At a community reception for the Iowa State Representative, held recently in Artesia, California, Dandekar explained why she supports Kerry and why the Indian Americans should rally around his candidature, according to a press release from the Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC).

“After 9/11, politics in the U.S. has changed; we need somebody who understands foreign and domestic policy from day one and someone who can understand intelligence reports!,” Dandekar said

She emphasized that Senator Kerry has the political acumen to meet these requirement besides being very clear cut in his vision on the four most vital issues in this election: the economy, health care, homeland security and education.

Dandekar said, “Kerry is very appreciative of the valuable contributions made by Indian Americans and very aware of the issues that face our community including the sensitive ones like outsourcing to India, youth issues and the health care concerns. In fact, Kerry’s health care vision is not only possible but also probable. I am honored to be his co-chair in his campaign as he has definitive solutions to problems. For instance, I admire Kerry’s view of the Iraq war

----- where he has repeatedly said that he would only go to war with Iraq with the blessings of the U.N.”

Regarding her own representation in Iowa State Legislature, she said: “I am proud that Iowa looks at me as one of them, not as a minority candidate. I always carry my Indian culture with me and this is respected by my peers, the fact that out of 30,000 voters in my district, less than 3 percent are of Asian descent shows that it is possible to be a part of the mainstream culture.”

Dandekar made history when she became the first South Asian and Asian American State Representative from Iowa House District 36 in November 2002. She was elected to the Linn-Mar Community School District in 1996. Six years later, she was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives with a decisive 57 percent of the vote. A graduate of Nagpur and Bombay Unive-rsities, Swati immigrated to the U.S. 30 years ago.

Dr. Krishna Reddy, president of the IAFC, emphasized that active participation in mainstream politics is vital for the future of Indian Americans and also to project a positive image of India in Congress. The IAFC, he said, organizes several receptions for U.S. lawmakers to bring India’s concerns to their attention.