Will the Hispanic Vote Matter in Pennsylvania?

Will the Hispanic Vote matter in Pennsylvania?

By: Nitza Soledad Pérez

Probably not. Only 4 percent of eligible voters in Pennsylvania are Hispanic, to be exact 261,000 of the 4 million democratic voters. But does that mean that we should be ignored, especially when we constitute the largest minority group in the nation?
 
Well, the critics are questioning Senator Obama. Many Hispanic leaders at the grassroot level say that they have been neglected . Reverend Luis Cortes Jr, President of Esperanza USA, the largest nonprofit Hispanic evangelical organization in the country, denounced the senator from Chicago, because of his failure to meet with many community leaders in the Keystone state. Napoleón García from Latinos por Obama also agreed that Senator Obama could do more to capture the latino vote, as reported by La Opinión.
 
Could this be a result of the fact that Senator Obama was trailing on the polls in Pennsylvania or a constant neglect of his advisers to remind him that we are a powerful force?
 
That´s what some of Obama supporters say. It seems to have been a constant issue running ever since the primary in Nevada. But not in Puerto Rico, where I am from. The primary will take place on June 1st and he has supporters already on the island campaigning.  A better idea would be to send his media darling wife, Michelle,  to counter attack the presence of  the charismatic ex-president Bill who has been hugging and kissing (his speciality) left and right in the hopes that Puerto Ricans will turn out for Hillary.  Sixty three delegates are clearly worth a fight between the spouses. 
 
But back to Pennsylvania, Senator Obama mentioned yesterday that probably Mrs Clinton will win, since she has a consistent lead in the polls...However, recent history demonstrates that polls can´t be trusted. For now, one thing is for sure Senator Clinton is not leaving the race anytime soon, which means that the fight for the democratic presidential nomination has a long way to go.

 

Nitza Soledad Pérez is the Washington DC Correspondent for TeleSUR TV, a 24 hrs Spanish TV News Network that broadcasts to Latin America and the Caribbean. Nitza has a master´s degree in International Relations from American University in Washington and formerly worked for ABC News.

 

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