Obama Re-election Campaign Names First Latina Political Director

Katherine Archuleta is being named political director for Obama 2012 today, a campaign source confirms to Fox News White House correspondent Mike Emanuel.

The source says she is the first Latina to hold that particular role on a major presidential campaign. Archuleta is expected to start her job with the campaign "within days."

Prior to joining Obama 2012, Archuleta served as Chief of Staff to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. She has nearly 18 years of government experience and served at one time as Executive Director of the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation.

Her appointment comes as President Obama heads to Puerto Rico next week courting Latino voters. According to the 2010 census, the Hispanic population of the United States grew 43 percent in the last 10 years. The Latino vote will be key for President Obama's re-election.

Ms. Archuleta's duties for Obama 2012 will include "political outreach and an emphasis on Hispanic community outreach", a campaign source told Fox News correspondent Steve Brown.