Obama tells La Raza that immigration reform is a priority
By John Marelius and Leslie Berestein
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS

July 13, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama promised Sunday he would make immigration reform a top priority of his first year in office if he is elected president as he chided Republican John McCain for backing away from his own comprehensive immigration bill.

Obama addressed the four-day National Council of La Raza convention, which has attracted more than 20,000 people to the San Diego Convention Center. McCain, a senator from Arizona and the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting, will address the convention Monday.

“I know Senator McCain used to buck his party on immigration in fighting for comprehensive reform and I admired him for it and joined him in it,â€