New York, June 27: A leading organisation of Indian Americans that backed Hillary Clinton’s White House bid has now extended support to triumphant Democratic candidate Barack Obama and pledged to raise $10 million, giving a major boost to his campaign for the November Presidential election.

‘American Indians for Democrats’ decided to endorse Obama to ensure that a Democrat occupies the White House in the next presidential elections, said Chairman Sant Singh Chatwal.

Chatwal said that his organisation plans to hold a major fund raiser for Obama next month where the Indian community would raise at least $10 million, making it the biggest such event for him.

The leading hotelier said Indian Americans had been supporting Hillary Clinton, but now that she had endorsed Obama, “there is no reason for them not to put their full weight behind him”.

Earlier, the organisation had raised $5 million for Clinton’s campaign.

Both Obama and Clinton were present at the function on Thursday where Chatwal formally endorsed Obama.

Chatwal appealed to the Indian Americans to fully support Obama, asserting that he would take care of their concerns and work towards strengthening growing Indo-American relations.

Chatwal said they had been awaiting Clinton’s endorsement of the Illinois Senator, before ensuring support for Obama from the Indian Americans.

The growing influence of the Indian community has led the presidential candidates to actively seek their support, and Obama was visibly happy to get the endorsement.

Obama, meanwhile, said he would personally contribute $2,300 dollars to Clinton, the most he can offer under federal law, to help towards cancelling campaign debts of $22.5 million she incurred during her failed presidential nomination bid.