Obama leads with Latinos as he launches Spanish-language spot

Today saw the release of a Spanish-language advertising campaign by Barack Obama, called "Nuestra Propio Camino" (Our Own Road) -- the first Spanish spot released by his campaign since he won his party's presidential nomination.

The move signals Obama's increasing efforts to win more votes from the growing Latino community in the U.S., and comes as a new poll shows that he has a strong lead over his Republican rival John McCain -- 66% of registered Hispanic voters support Obama (see this morning's Associated Press report here).

Phil Willon takes a close look at Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's support for Obama.

"Villaraigosa issued a public statement praising Obama as a 'champion of the Latino community' who was 'fighting for our families' and then delivered the same glowing message when he addressed two of the nation's most prestigious Latino civil rights organizations."

And on Friday, nine national Latino organizations announced a joint effort to register as many as 2 million new voters as presidential candidates from both parties vie for their community's increasingly influential support.

John McCain is also wooing Spanish-speaking voters. He addressed Latinos in a recent "Hijos de Dios" (Children of God) Spanish-language spot, in which he stressed their importance in the military.

Although Barack Obama has a lead over John McCain among Latino voters, the Democrat presidential nominee is still formulating his positions on a number of issues to do with Latin America, which he has yet to visit.

According to the Miami Herald, excitement over Obama outside the United States in parts of Latin America is high. The presidential candidate is generating support more for his ethnicity than for his policies, according to analysts, and residents of countries such as Mexico are more reticent about him than those in other places such as Venezuela, the Herald reports:

"Although Obama's persona sparks excitement, his criticism of free trade runs counter to Mexico's interests, according to analysts.

''We were surprised at the meteoric rise of Obama's career, his capacity to generate hope and his innovative use of new technologies,'' Raúl Trejo, a professor at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, said.

"But it must be recognized that Mexican governments have had more success with Republicans.''

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City

Photo: L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gives a "fist bump" to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama during the national convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) at the Washington, D.C., Hilton on July 8. Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Comments

[Andrew Miller]

I like the effort Obama is making t with regards t Latino voters, but I am NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE ACTUAL ADVERTISEMENTS! I felt they were long winded and that the announcer was NOT effective. I think they should give it another shot and make a better ad

The ones I was listening to were pretty bad in terms of advertisements. They could be a lot better and they should turn to a latin agency such as GRUPO GALLEGOS

[Cheryll]

Obama has never done anything to really help minorities, not even the black community. Now the old savior, is interested in the Latinos?? Only for a vote and after that, he will dump them like yesterdays news. A lot of people will find that out soon enough...I had hoped the spanish community would have had a better idea.

[Herman Resto]

Should it read?

"Nuestro Propio Camino"

not "Nuestra"

[John Wallenfeldt]

"But it must be recognized that Mexican governments have had more success with Republicans.''

Really? Who was there to help bail out your economy? I remember that being Bill Clinton fending off the GOP who absolutely DID NOT want to help Mexico with a loan.

And the Bracero program? Wasn't that a primarily Democrat-supported program? For all its faults, it was a damn site better than what we've currently got.

Gimme a frigging break.

[ZachJonesIsHome]

American Journalists are Trampling the Sacrifice of Our Fathers, Mothers, Sisters and Brothers
(Unfortunately, the Journalists taking part in this travesty far outnumber the headstones at Normandy) from zachjonesishome.wordpress.com Specifically:
http://zachjonesishome.wordpress.com/2008/07/24/obama-media-jounalists-trampling-on-the-sacrifice-of-our-fathers-mothers-sisters-brothers/

[rmarie]

I WISH THE OBAMA CAMP WOULD HIRE SOMEONE THAT KNOWS SPANISH. " OUR OWN WORLD " CORRECT TRANSLATION WOULD BE " NUESTRO PROPIO CAMINO "
IT BOTHERS ME WHEN PEOPLE WANTS MY ATTENTION BUT DOES NOT CARE ENOUGH TO DO IT RIGHT.
I AM VOTING FOR HIM ANYWAY.