Actress Eva Longoria is one of the many speakers who will take the podium at the 2012 Democratic National Convention on Thursday night.  She is scheduled to hit the stage before President Obama's keynote speech.

Longoria is currently one of the national co-chairs for Obama's re-election campaign.  Upon announcing her selection as one of the 34 speakers, the campaign stated that they hoped the decision would help engage voters and offer advice.

Best known for her character Gabrielle Solis in the dramedy "Desperate Housewives,"  she is also the founder of the "Eva Longoria Foundation," which is an organization that aids Latinos in both educational and entrepreneurial endeavors.

The offspring of a Mexican-American family, Longoria is one of several Latinos to be featured at the DNC.  Texas Mayor Julian Castro had become the very first Latino keynote speaker on Tuesday.  Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was also on hand to speak on Wednesday.

Longoria had appeared on the "Today Show" earlier on Thursday and had jokingly referenced Clint Eastwood's speech by saying there would be "no empty chairs" during hers.  Eastwood had spoken to an empty seat last week at the RNC as if Obama was sitting in it.

Longoria had also touched on the rigorous work she has done on the campaign trail for an Obama re-election.

"[Eastwood] had a different narrative,'' she said. "Everyone keeps comparing us because we're both from the entertainment industry, but I'm a co-chair for the campaign. I'm on the ground, I've been in swing states, I've been talking to the American people, I've been out there speaking on behalf of Obama's record. I've been in the trenches," she said.

"My narrative tonight with my speech and what I'm going to tell the American people is very different than what Clint did," Longoria added.

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