Calif. candidate seeks Hmong support in MN

A California congressional candidate is seeking support from his fellow Hmong in Minnesota.

Blong Xiong traveled from Fresno to raise campaign money this weekend in St. Paul's tight-knit Hmong community.

KARE-TV reports that Xiong seeks to be the first Hmong-American to ever hold a seat on Congress. The station says the prospect was thrilling to those he met Saturday at the Hmong Village mall.

Xiong is in his second term as a Fresno city council member. He must first win a June Democratic primary in California's largely Latino 21st district, but campaign strategist Michael Fenenbock says Xiong speaks Spanish and understands Latino issues. There's no incumbent due to redistricting.

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Xiong says he plans to visit Minnesota again soon. St. Paul and Fresno have two of the country's largest Hmong communities.

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Information from: KARE-TV

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)