Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Latino vote makes big difference in Texas primary

By Marisa Treviño of Latina Lista

This morning in Texas, after a long night of vote tabulations and "two-stepping," one irrevocable fact has emerged: The Latino vote made a difference for both Clinton and Obama. Though Clinton has been declared the winner by garnering 51% of the vote versus Obama's 48%, it's clear from reports that the area Clinton poured the heart and soul of her campaigning — South Texas — proved to be what tipped her win. (Yet, until early voting results are registered, the official winner is still not known, as well as, who has won the majority of Texas delegates.)

It's important to note that in South Texas Clinton did well with ALL age groups. It's reported that she even won the majority of the Millennial generation (18-29). And the reason why isn't too surprising. Compared to Obama face-time in South Texas, Clinton outdid her competitor. She stumped from El Paso to Laredo and back again. Obama made a few appearances but concentrated his energy in the urban areas where "Urban Latinos" helped him push the margin of difference between him and Clinton to just three points. Had Obama campaigned in South Texas among young voters like he did in the urban areas, he might have been able to generate the same enthusiasm he enjoyed in the bigger cities but he didn't and for that reason, he just didn't "connect" with Latino voters there.

Yet, it's clear that without the "Urban Latino" vote, he would not have raked up the impressive numbers that he did. With all the talk of GOP voters switching parties to vote for either Obama or Hillary, whoever they perceived to be the weaker candidate against McCain, news from Hillary that she would consider running on the same ticket with Obama may prove to be the real moment of truth for the Latino vote, not to mention the youth vote. As Latina Lista reported earlier, a majority of young voters surveyed said they had no interest in voting come November if Obama wasn't one of the candidates. A Clinton and Obama ticket would not only unite a majority of young voters, Latinos and women but definitely steer a new course for Washington politics.

Pegasus News content partner - Latina Lista

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