BY OLYMPIA MEOLA

President Barack Obama’s campaign has added Melody Gonzales as Virginia Latino Vote Director.

Gonzales, who starts next week, last served as director of member outreach for the vice-chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-31^st. She worked on Obama’s 2008 campaign as the Latino Vote Canvass Director in Colorado.

As the Latino vote director here, Gonzales will assist the Obama campaign’s efforts to engage Hispanic voters, which could be a key constituency in this battleground state. Virginia’s Latino population now represents roughly 8 percent of the state’s total population.

Republicans have also begun efforts to reach these voters — presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s camp on Friday released its first general election TV ad in English and Spanish.

The Republican National Committee in April announced six state directors for its Hispanic Outreach Program, including Virginia director Jeyben Castro, who most recently served as executive assistant and board liaison at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

Gonzales has also worked on get-out-the-vote efforts for the Arizona Democratic Party and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.