Latino vote 'critical' to Democrats in 2010, DNC Chair Tim Kaine says
Turning out Latino voters on Nov. 2 is vital to Democratic success in the midterm elections, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine said today.
In a telephone interview, Kaine said "it is critical" for Democrats to mobilize Hispanic voters from California to Florida.
"We will have a strong margin among Latino voters," he said. "Our challenge is to have a strong turnout."
Polls have shown that Hispanic voters, unlike most other Americans, remain strongly supportive of President Obama. But Democrats worry that the turnout levels among Latinos will drop, threatening Democratic candidates in close races such as California Sen. Barbara Boxer and Jerry Brown the party's nominee for governor.
Kaine, a former Central American missionary who is fluent in Spanish, has been barnstorming across the country since Labor Day in an attempt to fire up the Democratic base. At a recent campaign stop in El Paso, Texas, he conducted a Spanish-language press conference.
"We're making the case to Latino voters that there are differences between the parties," Kaine said.
The former Virginia governor said the president's economic stimulus package and health-reform law resonate with most Hispanic voters while Republicans "are pledging to repeal it."
Obama's failure to win passage of comprehensive immigration reform is a disappointment to many Latinos, he conceded.
"There is a sadness that more has not gotten through on immigration," he acknowledged.
But he said Hispanics realize that despite the lack of legislative success, there is "a sharp difference" between Democrats and Republicans on immigration-related issues.
In a telephone interview, Kaine said "it is critical" for Democrats to mobilize Hispanic voters from California to Florida.
"We will have a strong margin among Latino voters," he said. "Our challenge is to have a strong turnout."
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DNC Chair Tim Kaine |
Kaine, a former Central American missionary who is fluent in Spanish, has been barnstorming across the country since Labor Day in an attempt to fire up the Democratic base. At a recent campaign stop in El Paso, Texas, he conducted a Spanish-language press conference.
"We're making the case to Latino voters that there are differences between the parties," Kaine said.
The former Virginia governor said the president's economic stimulus package and health-reform law resonate with most Hispanic voters while Republicans "are pledging to repeal it."
Obama's failure to win passage of comprehensive immigration reform is a disappointment to many Latinos, he conceded.
"There is a sadness that more has not gotten through on immigration," he acknowledged.
But he said Hispanics realize that despite the lack of legislative success, there is "a sharp difference" between Democrats and Republicans on immigration-related issues.