New approach to back immigration bill

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's political support group is joining with a Republican pro-immigration organization and an effort run by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to try to boost support for a comprehensive immigration bill.

Organizing for Action, a grassroots group run by Obama loyalists that grew out of his 2012 re-election campaign, will co-sponsor a "virtual march on Washington" planned for next week aimed at getting people to use social media platforms to register their support for the immigration legislation.

Bloomberg's Partnership for a New American Economy is behind the effort, and was announcing OFA's participation Tuesday. Republicans for Immigration Reform, a group headed by former Bush administration Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, also is co-chairing the endeavor.

"By bringing together leaders from both parties and Americans across the country, we hope to send Congress a clear message that there is broad support for smart reform — and the time for action is now," Bloomberg said in a statement.

The virtual "March for Innovation," planned for May 22-23, is designed to get people to use Twitter, Reddit, Facebook and other social media platforms to push Congress to pass the immigration bill, which may come to a vote next week in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

It's another sign of engagement by business and high-tech leaders and officials across the political spectrum to support the immigration legislation.