Crow Tribe member joins Obama to woo American Indian voters

MISSOULA, Mont.—A Dartmouth College student who is a member of the Crow Tribe will lead Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign efforts to enlist American Indian voters in Montana, a campaign spokesman said Friday.

Samuel Kohn is scheduled to begin his new job Monday as the state campaign team's Native American coordinator, Obama spokesman Matt Chandler said.

"I've been waiting for a long time for a presidential candidate who listens to Native Americans, because our issues and concerns are rarely heard," Kohn said in a statement. "Senator Obama is committed to giving Native Americans a voice so we can finally make real progress on issues that impact our tribes, and I'm proud to be a part of this grass roots movement for change."

Kohn is a junior at Dartmouth College, majoring in Native American Studies and computer science. He will work in the Helena office, one of five Obama campaign posts in Montana. He said he would reach out to American Indians and voters on all seven reservations in the state.