The late Cesar Chavez's birthday was being celebrated on Monday, and neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama was letting the late Chicano workers rights icon's significance go unnoticed.

Both candidates are vying for Hispanic voters as the last few Democratic presidential primary races quickly approach. Chavez' name resonates strongly, especially in the Mexican-American community, which reveres the labor organizer who co-founded what is known today as the United Farm Workers union.

The UFW endorsed Clinton in January, and Clinton's campaign sent out an e-mail early Monday in honor of "the 81st anniversary of Cesar E. Chavez's birthday."

"Today, I join millions of Americans in commemorating the life of one of our great civil rights leaders, Cesar Chavez. ... Under his leadership -- highlighted by nonviolent protest -- thousands of farmers across the country were able to secure improved wages and benefits, humane living and working conditions and better job security," reads the e-mail attributed to Clinton.

Not to be outdone, Obama went a step further, calling for a national holiday in honor of Chavez's birthday.

"Today is Cesar Chavez's birthday, and his life and legacy are important for us all to remember. ... When some said he could not organize farmworkers and take on the growers, he said, 'Sí Se Puede' -- 'Yes We Can.' It's a philosophy of hope and aspiration that inspires us today," reads a statement from Obama, who repeated the signature rallying cry he borrowed from Chavez.

"As farmworkers and laborers across America continue to struggle for fair treatment and fair wages, we find strength in what Cesar Chavez accomplished so many years ago. And we should honor him for what he's taught us about making America a stronger, more just, and more prosperous nation. That's why I support the call to make Cesar Chavez's birthday a national holiday. It's time to recognize the contributions of this American icon to the ongoing efforts to perfect our union," Obama said.

Earlier this month, Obama won the endorsement of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor.