How To Market Politics To Hispanics

6/08/08- I grew up with the memory of Willie Velasquez who founded the Southwest Voter Registration Project.  He was an amazing force, who lived and breathed to see the Hispanic vote counted, and to be honest...must've had a crystal ball...forseeing the growth of Hispanics in the U.S. (Willie died in 1988 at the young age of 44). 

He was a very close friend of the family, and started the Southwest Voter Registration Project with a dream to see the Hispanic vote matter, and for Hispanic voters to have a say in government at all levels.

Now, 20 years after the death of this Hispanic leader...we see Obama Barack as the Democratic nominee...moving to court Hispanic voters.  Something as we all know...he didn't do in the primaries.

How to win Hispanics ...and influence people?  Yeah...not easy...especially when your opponent did such a great job of tapping into Hispanic voters.

Well, here's a few thoughts...doing freeform today.

Superstar Venues
Obama typically has worked in superevent....superstar status where thousands of people go to megastadiums/venues to listen to him politicking.  It's worked thus far....however...

Eh, this tactic ain't gonna work so well among Hispanics.

Small & Intimate
Here's a culture where traditions, sayings, belongings, cultural habits and norms are taught and passed on by family and close friends.  Where recommendations of a friend or family member hold much greater weight than a multi-million dollar ad campaign splashed across every billboard or Spanish language novela.

Keep it small, keep it close, a big superstar over the top presentation...will likely do more to turn off than attract Hispanic voters.

Influencers
Hispanics listen to other Hispanics....and well...Obama and McCain for that matter needs to identify significant influencers in the Hispanic community who will start talking about his ideas, and laying the groundwork as to why Hispanics should vote for either candidate.

Obama reached out this past week to Joe Baca, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to garner his support...Now remember...Baca, had pledged his support to Hillary.  Baca is rallying, and has come out in the press that he will be rallying to support Obama.

This is a good first move...but as the saying goes...there's still much work to be done.

Target
See this is something Hillary was just good at.  Targeting Hispanics.  She assembled a powerhouse of staff behind her who had the expertise at developing Hispanic voter connections at a variety of levels.  Obama and McCain are way behind here.  They both need to develop a concerted effort to step up to the plate, and talk about issues that matter to Hispanics, and develop appropriate strategies to do so.

Explain
Okay to me this is a key one,  both candidates...be in McCain or Obama need to explain to Hispanic voters several things. 

1) McCain: Immigration
For a time there, he was supporting the immigration issue...but why has it seemed he has turned his back on his once supportive immigration stance.  What happened?  Where'd you go?

2) Obama: Where've you been?
It's almost as if Obama gave up on Hispanic voters during the race with Hillary- as if the problem would just go away.  Well, news flash....it won't Hispanics are here to stay.  Where have your efforts been? 

A few thoughts...

-La Marketer