While President Obama can no doubt leverage election knowledge from Harry Reid regarding the 2010 Nevada Senatorial race, he must also tap the services of other key people in his quest to secure the Latino vote in 2012. The biggest take away from that election was that Mr. Reid was able harness the power of the Latino vote to defeat Republican challenger Sharron Angle. Today, the President’s recent poll ratings are at or near all time lows, and the sour economy is not helping matters. Not only must he solidify the traditional Democratic voter base, but he should also try to formulate a defined campaign strategy to attract the ever expanding Latino vote. While Mr. Reid is an asset, President Obama must look to younger confidants to really make things happen regarding the fastest growing group in the country. However, the President has his work cut out for him because many in the Latino community are not pleased about deportation matters since he took office and his recent move to the center during the debt ceiling discussions. As a result, new blood must be brought into his re-election effort.

Antonio Villaraigosa & Julian Castro

Talk about two articulate and well respected mayors, Mr. Villaraigosa and Mr. Castro certainly fit the bill. Mr. Villaraigosa is the current mayor of Los Angeles, the second largest city in America with over 4 million people. It is a vibrant city with a rich culture and solid economic base. There are factors such as poverty, pollution, and other contributors that must be viewed as negatives. These factors are not unique to Los Angeles, but the sad fact is that they are common place in most major metropolises around the globe. After all is said and done, Los Angeles is one of the world’s great cities and Mr. Villaraigosa deserves a great deal of credit regarding his leadership since becoming mayor in 2005. Mr. Castro is very well educated (Stanford & Harvard) and the current mayor of San Antonio. He was elected mayor in 2009 and has done an excellent job navigating the city through the financial crisis and helping to create a healthy economic environment. Both Mr. Villaraigosa and Mr. Castro must be viewed as rising political stars, not only among the Latino community, but the national stage as well. They are two very smart and capable people who should do quite well in the Democratic ranks leading up to 2012 and beyond.

This month the Obama Administration made a big change regarding the deportation process and will now review matters on a “case-by-case” basis, which affects some 300,000 people. This change may help to calm the Latino community, but it must be viewed as only a short-term fix. The President is now facing an uphill battle as a result of the November 2010 elections in which Republicans gained a majority in the House and in State governorships. In addition, the economy is experiencing sub-par employment and GDP growth. Helping to polarize the Latino vote in populous states like California and Texas will be a prime focus for the Democratic re-election machine to keep Mr. Obama in the White House. It will come as no surprise that Mr. Villaraigosa and Mr. Castro could be major contributors regarding this strategy. It will also come as no surprise that a member of the Latino community could be on the 2016 Democratic ticket as Vice-President or President. Stay tuned.