Does Senator Obama have a connection with Hispanics?  The answer is....

Yeah, we get the point, the answer I think most Hispanics would say is: no senor. 

Obama has come off as one-dimensional in may ways in his outreach to Hispanics - in that drum up a personal connection way.  However he has been good on talking about issues Hispanics care about: health care, the Iraq war, education and jobs.   A recent poll released last month showed that Latino voters favor Obama, 47, over McCain, 71.  One voter said that, "Obama is surely in touch with the concerns of Hispanics."

Additionally Hispanics are sure to play a more important part in the polls as Latino voter registration has increased from 47 percent in 2004 to 56 percent this year. 
 

Could this lack of personal connection be the "McCain Opportunity"?  It could be the vulnerable spot for McCain to make a move in to capture the Hispanic vote. 
 

McCain, is looking for a similar Hispanic win vote in accordance with Bush's success in 2004.  President George W. won 40% of the Hispanic vote in '04.
 

It'll be interesting with a new female VP candidate how that'll stack up in the Republican record of the Hispanic vote capture...

-Ray Malik

I just read a great line, a quote from sociology professor: James Ballard..."coming to your neighborhood soon--the Los Angeles experience" What does he mean?  Population figures are predicting by 2050 there will be 3 times as many Hispanics in the US as there are today...accounting for 1 in 3 people in the US being Hispanic.  The number of Hispanics is predicted to go from 46.7 million to 132.8 million.  Whew! 

If the polls or major corporations aren't following the Hispanic voter and consumer, they should certainly start soon.  It's those who make an effort early on, and stick with it that has a pay out down the line.  Now's the time to get involved and make a commitment to make an investment in the Hispanic market. 

The Hispanic vote has come out to be a major force in this election, much larger than the 2004 election.  It'll be quite interesting to see how the Hispanic vote becomes a larger force even in the forthcoming 2008 and 2012 elections.

Muy interessante.

-El Pundit

In the primary season Barack Obama made little efort to conect with Hispanics and did little to fix the matter. Hillary on the other hand won two-thirds of the Latino vote.   Now, it's John McCain who seemed to have it together when it came to Hispanics, who's now trying to win over Hispanic voters.  Obama's leading over 30 points in many polls among Latinos. It seems his chances of obtaining the hispanic vote are looking good in several key states - Nevada, Florida, New Mexico and Colorado - both candidates are putting a lot of resources into campaigns targeting Latinos.

Some say Hispanics allegiances tend to change back and forth, and thus the current situation could switch back to McCain so election watchers should be careful at taking current research as gospel. The truth is that Hispanics change their style no more frequently than other demographic groups.  Perhaps the main thrust is that many Hispanics aren't excited about having another Republican president, many are ready for a change.

McCain's strategy for winning over Hispanics is immigration reform, while raising concerns about Obama's creditability on the issue. But will this work? Polls show Hispanic voters - who are already US citizens - care less about immigration than about important issues like the economy and healthcare. By comparison, Obama's plan's to put social and economic concerns of Latino citizens first. 

Who's to win, poll watchers can only wait and see.  Nonetheless it's shaping up to be a very interesting election year.

By: Rahan Malik

6/30/08-  Music is making waves again in the 2008 elections.  This time, not only is Obama on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, but now...Latino musicians are coming out in force urging Hispanics around the nation to vote.  Everyone from Los Tigres del Norte, to Juanes and Mana (who ironically enough, have their roots and citizenship in Latin America) are urging Hispanic Americans to take to the polls.   Mana played a benefit concert in Miami in March to benefit a campaign to push voter registration among Hispanics. 

-Thalia Valencia

tvalencia@hispanic.com

When was the last time a former campaign manager of a major presidential campaign headed over to the opponents camp… And when was the last time for that matter, the ex-campaign head was named chief of staff to the as of yet unnamed VP candidate?  Happens all the time right? 

So go the Days of Our Campaign Lives...currently starring Patti Solis Doyle.

What's the next Obama camp move?  Naming Hillary as VP? (drum roll please)

Well, seeing as how that isn't gonna be happening in this lifetime, we can return to the projections of the future Obama VP….

This entire political season just gets better and better.  Who needs reruns, when you got some of the best political drama playing out right before your very eyes.

Thalia Valencia

6/12/08-  Envision a year hence...a Democtratic president, and the phrase senor Vice Presidente Richardson.  Could it be a reality?

Names are being bandied about like confetti in a cascarone, but it's just a couple of names that could rake in a Hispanic vote...Hillary Clinton or Bill Richardson.

Hispanic lawmakers are warning Obama that he could risk missing Hispanics, unless he lays it on thick: focusing on immigration, Hispanic issues, and citizenship. 

And some say the only way he can get a Hispanic vote is by selecting Clinton or Richardson as a VP.  Now a Clinton selection is unrealistic.  A Richardson selection-may be a possibility.  As Richardson served as a member of Clinton's cabinet and spent this Super Bowl Sunday with Bill Clinton... as Bill tried to collect Richardson's support.  In an almost traitorous turn of events... Richardson announced in March that he would be supporting Obama. 

A calculated VP move if I ever saw one...

Saying...

6/09/08- Are they?  Shifting to McCain now?

Now that we have the disintegration of the Hillary campaign, where are Hispanics to go?  I was reading an article in the telegraph.co.uk stating that "There is growing tension between Hispanics and blacks, and because an Obama victory could be seen as a triumph for blacks".  

Hmmmm.

Interesting observation.  And could be.  There is a general separation in the two communities, and McCain was fairly strong in the early days in his support of Hispanics.

It'll be curious to see where the Hispanics go...as this election has turned out to be the most unique race in history.  With so many candidates from such diverse racial backgrounds...Richardson...Obama, and a female candidate for president. 

Thalia Valencia 

-Thalia Valencia

5/26/08- Hillary, Hillary, Hillary her name is starting to sound like an echo in the wind...at this point what can she be waiting for to finally leave the race? I think I might have the answer...she wants to a have her  great season  finale in an enchanted island (perhaps Puerto Rico?), like a Lost episode...who wouldnt?????

The reality is that there are only three more contests to go: Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota for a total prize of 110 delegates...  Barack Obama has 1965 delegates and Senator Clinton 1780. This means that Barack is only 61 delegates away from securing the nomination (2026 delegates needed), while Hillary is 251 delegates short. Last week I said she needed three miracles, now I dare to say  that its impossible in this lifetime, well maybe plausible  in Hillary´s parallel reality.  Delegates are distributed proportionately and of those 110 delegates left, she cannot win them all. Barack Obama will get a proportion of delegates according to the votes obtained. Therefore, there is not much the Clinton campaign can do at this point in time to revert the cruel truth...

But since we know that the Clintons are not going to give up any time soon they will try to push the DNC to grant Hillary the delegates she allegedly won in Michigan and Florida, but Obama was not even in Michigan´s ballot. The fair way would be to re do these primaries and that would be extremely costly for the party: financially and politically.  Howard Dean, are you ready for what´s coming your way??? I should ask to all of you readers, what are the possible threats coming Dean’s way??? Any ideas??  

The DNC is refusing to redo the voting and they are still trying to find a solution for this uncomfortable situation for Michigan and Florida voters...in the meantime we had a recent snapshot of the perfect GQ cover, I mean a very desirable democratic ticket with Obama and Edwards in it...while Hillary keeps living of her super ego and oh McCain has his Reverend affair...

Look for next weeks´ blog on Edward and Obama´s GQ cover ...hair affairs and McCains´ health report!

By: Nitza Soledad Perez

nperez@hispanic.com

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 is a former ABC News employee.

Hillary Clinton is looking to Barack Obama and saying "Meet me in Puerto Rico!" Outside of a family restaurant in Penuelas, PR, Sen. Clinton challenged Sen. Obama to a debate "about the issues affecting Puerto Rico."

Sen. Obama, who has anointed himself the presumptive nominee with the help of the media, hasn't accepted the the invitation to the debate, which Univison said it would sponsor. Even as Obama is positioning himself for the general election by campaigning in states which will be important to the general election, he is missing an opportunity to show his campaign's commitment to winning the Hispanic vote.

I've written previously that Sen. Obama starts at a disadvantage compared to Sen. Clinton against with John McCain and Hispanics. Obama has only been a national figure for a couple of years, and Hispanics have had less time to test his commitment to the issues and causes important to us. John McCain, on the other hand, has proved his ability to work across the aisle on education, immigration, and many other issues. This is not to say that Obama hasn't done the same... but if he has, we haven't heard about it.

But a debate on the issues important to the people of Puerto Rico would go a long way in not just showing his commitment to the issues of the islanders, but also to prove that he is serious about winning the votes of Hispanics in November by paying very real attention to the issues important to Hispanic families.

But the people of Puerto Rico don't play into Obama general election strategy--after all, they don't' get to vote--so we're to assume that they don't deserve the same amount of attention as the voters of Michigan or Missouri. We've seen this before. Although he drastically outspent Hillary there, Obama barely visited Kentucky, opting instead to spend more time in comparatively-friendly Oregon. Kentucky voters have been hurt hard by a struggling economy and rising cost-of-everything, and, instead of solutions, Obama gave them the cold shoulder.

Maybe that's what the Hispanic community should expect from Obama, as well.

By Xavier Lopez-Ayala

lopez-ayala@hispanic.com

5/21/09- Rumors of Patti Solis-Doyle's defection to the Obama campaign have been grossly exaggerated.  And one can understand why.  Sen. Obama's campaign is trying to prove its "inevitability" in light of a 40% loss in West Virginia, and a likely 30% loss in Kentucky.

But let's look at the facts.

The story, which broke on The Politico, began with a question to David Axelrod about "whether he and Solis Doyle had discussed her working for the campaign."

Instead of directly answering the question, Axelrod responded in the nuanced language of a political strategist, "I've talked to Patti throughout. I know that she wants to be helpful in a general election campaign, and we appreciate that."  This quote needs to be taken with a grain of salt--remember, it comes from the same man who has been able to brand Sen. Obama, who has accomplished very little in his two years of the Senate, as the candidate able to bring about change.

"If Barack Obama's the nominee, I'll do everything I can to get him elected," Solis Doyle told The Politico.  That's not news.

In fact, its the official position of Hillary Clinton herself--whose said she will campaign vigorously for Sen. Obama if he's the nominee, but it's too early for that because millions have yet to vote and we have yet to settle the issue of Michigan and Florida.

Both candidates have said they will campaign for each other, should he or she be the Democratic nominee; it doesn't take a willful suspension of disbelief to conclude that some members of their staff would do the same.  I can understand why, in the heat of a primary season, someone might think this story is sensational, but at the end of the day, we're all Democrats and we will come together to defeat John McCain.  But stories like these make me angry, because they function to declare Sen. Obama the nominee (which he is not) without holding him accountable for the burdens of the position (such as winning primaries).

This entire story is just a distraction, a political game designed to draw attention away from Clinton's general election strength against John McCain when compared to Sen. Obama, her popular vote lead, and her victories in Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky despite being massively outspent and counted out.

To quote a letter from Patti herself:

As Senator Obama has said, "In an era when Americans are rightfully skeptical about the quality of our politics, let us set an example [they] can be proud of and give them the kind of campaign they deserve." 

Americans are tired of these political games, Sen. Obama.  There's nothing "new" about them.

By: Xavier Lopez-Ayala

lopez-ayala@hispanic.com

5/21/08-  2 words for you: Not Good.

Not good in many ways, and of course our best wishes go out to Senator Kennedy in his recovery.  I met him just under a year ago at an event announcing Hispanic demographic results, together with Hispanic union leaders at the Senate building.

Long a supporter of immigrant issues (experts say since the 1960s)  and a supporter of the working class...unions, and immigration issues, Ted Kennedy's support on the election front will be missed.  Especially by Obama campaign, as Kennedy is an Obama supporter. 

The two, Kennedy and Obama had been working together to make a dent in Clinton's Hispanic support.  Kennedy.  Senator Kennedy's brother Robert marched with Cesar Chavez long ago. 

It will be interesting to see what the next Hispanic voter strategy move is, and whether the Kennedy illness will impact Hispanic supporter efforts on the Obama campaign.

 As someone who has met Senator Kennedy, I wish him the best and can't wait to see him back at the Senate after he gets well to continue his support of Hispanic and union issues.

-Thalia Valencia

tvalencia@hispanic.com

5/20/08- Wowsers!  Patti Solis Doyle y'all... La Hispanic Doyle was much touted by the Hillary Campaign as their campaign manager up until a few months ago, when she was replaced (i'd say mysteriously replaced) as the Hillary campaign head. 

Word on the street is that La Doyle may be about to say: Ciao-Ciao Hillary & Hello Obama. She's spent some time talking to a senior Obama adviser...David Axelrod.

Coincidental, I was just wondering what Doyle was up to...official word was that she remained a senior Clinton advisor...but that and 50 cents will time on a parking meter.  

Remember, Doyle has been working for the Clinton's on and off since 1991, when she joined them as a scheduler for Hillary. 

So no confirmation yet....but remember...Doyle has Chicago roots too, and she was quoted "Politico"..."If Barack Obama's the nominee, I'll do everything I can to get him elected."    Staff changes happen between candidates...but usually after it's clear a candidate will lose, or pulls out.  This would be unique as it would come in the heat of the Hillary/Obama battle. Additionally, Doyle was the widely-publicized campaign head...it'd be a big publicity loss for the Clinton campaign. (I mean if her trusted close advisors are leaving....what's next?!)

Stay tuned y'all, if this happens, it'd be a major blow to the Hillary campaign as well as a major coup for Obama and gaining Hispanic voter traction. 

...Are we havin' fun yet or what? 

-Thalia Valencia

tvalencia@hispanic.com