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Rep. Mike Honda plans to use his new high-profile role as a vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to tap the Asian-American community for more than $5 million and cultivate new immigrant communities for his party, all while serving as a “bridge” between Chairman Howard Dean and House Democrats. Honda bested Alvaro Cifuentes, the outgoing DNC Hispanic Caucus chairman, for the one remaining DNC executive slot available to a male. In the campaign, Honda earned endorsements from two of his onetime rivals, fellow Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Nelson Diaz, a Puerto Rican political operative. Honda’s election to the executive committee also marked a victory for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who offered an early endorsement for the third-term Californian and then redoubled her efforts on his behalf once it became clear that Dean had secured the chairmanship. [more]