(usat) Most of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have shifted their support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama and are vowing to help Democrats win the Latino vote. Obama met with the caucus Tuesday evening in what attendees said was a cordial meeting and the first time many had met or had any significant discussion with Obama. Only one of the four female Hispanic caucus members attended. Hispanic voters heavily favored Clinton over Obama during the Democratic primary season. "I told him I worked my heart out against you and I'm ready to work for you now," Rep. Henry Cuellar, an avid Clinton backer, said after the meeting. Hispanics are considered a key constituency in this year's elections. President Bush captured about 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2004. But Democrats believe they can top that because of Hispanic voters' frustrations over the war in Iraq, the economic downturn and what some consider anti-immigration rhetoric and policies of the Bush administration. A recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll showed Obama with 62% support from Hispanics polled to McCain's 28%. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus represents about 9.8 million Hispanics, about 21% of the 45.5 million in the country, the caucus said. During the meeting, Obama agreed that Clinton "hustled" more for the Hispanic vote, said Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas. "He acknowledged that he had heard the criticism that his campaign in the primary had not done sufficient or extensive outreach to the Hispanic community," Reyes said. Obama acknowledged his campaign didn't do a good job and he wanted to change that, Reyes said. Obama told them he is working on a national Hispanic outreach strategy, Reyes said.

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