If Sen. Barrack Obama fails to generate much interest -- and votes -- in the Latino community, it won't be because of Texas state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte or Adolfo Carrión, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

The two Latino leaders are taking active roles in this week's Democratic National Convention in Denver, and both are ardent Obama supporters.

If political experts question whether Sen. Hillary Clinton's support will switch to Obama, van Putte tells them to look at her.

"Hillary lived in San Antonio, my hometown, before she was married to Bill Clinton," said van Putte during a telephone conference call last Tuesday. "She registered Latino voters before it was cool to do so."

That 35-year relationship helped the former First Lady carry the Latino vote in states like Texas and California, said van Putte, convention co-president.

"We have worked for months to bring the party together," said van Putte, whose maiden name is San Miguel. "Como todas las familias (like all families), we fight, but we come together."

That party unity, said van Putte, can be seen in Clinton's campaign travels to Nevada and California to state her support to Obama.

Carrión, a lifelong Democrat from the Bronx, believes the Latino community will show strong support for the Democratic ticket in November.

The election, he said, "is not about Hillary and not necessarily about Obama, but about the future of this country."

"If you vote for your best interest, you will vote for Obama and the Democratic agenda," said Carrión, a member of the Obama campaign's Latino Advisory Council.

About speculation that Latinos won't show up for Obama, Carrión has a quick response: "Much has been made of the sentiments and feelings of people, which I think is overplayed in the media."

Carrión said Latinos are concerned about the economy and the war in Iraq, issues which he believes Obama has the best solutions.

"Obama recognizes that Hispanics are growing and are a swing vote," said Carrión. "He enjoys significant support from the Hispanic community simply based on a very clear and aggressive agenda that emphasizes the priorities of the Hispanic community."

Political experts say presumptive Republican challenger John McCain will have to capture more than 30 percent of the Latino vote to have a chance of winning in November. Only President Bush has enjoyed that type of support from Latino voters in his last two campaigns.

Obama campaign spokesman Vince Casillas said Obama's move to spend $20 million on Latino voter registration and organizing efforts is proof that he is concerned about the Latino community.

Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry spent a combined $8 million on such efforts four years ago, said Casillas.