New McCain Ad Targets Latinos
The McCain campaign today debuted a 60-second Spanish-language radio ad focusing on the economy in Nevada and New Mexico. The spot comes as both parties try to woo the Latino vote in key battleground states, like Nevada and New Mexico, as well as in Florida, where recent voter registration figures show many young Cubans are less anti-Castro, and less Republican, than their parents.
The Democrats definitely have the edge. Recent polls show that, overall, the GOP’s tough stance on illegal immigration has driven Latino voters away from the party in droves, particularly in the Southwest.
New U.S. Census Bureau data shows that Latinos now make up more than 15 percent of the total U.S. population — more than 45 million people — and are growing faster than any other minority group. They are a key swing voting bloc.
It is true that Sen. John McCain opposed the nativist elements in his own party and stood with Democrats to support comprehensive immigration reform. This position went a long way toward reinforcing McCain’s reputation as a maverick, willing to buck his own party. Whether this helps insulate the Arizona senator from the exodus of Latino voters from the Republican Party is one of the big questions of the 2008 election.
Here are the ad transcripts, translated and not:
“„ANNCR: When we are buying groceries, we don’t have a political party. When we are filling up the gas tank, we are not Republicans, Democrats or Independents. We are Hispanics, and we all are hurting together in this uncertain economic time. We need someone that has a good economic plan, and that is John McCain. His plan is a realistic plan, not a political one, and it will help jump-start the local and national economies.
“„He proposed to Congress a federal gas-tax holiday for the summer months. He wants middle-class families to pay less taxes so we can have more money in our pocket and less in Washington. And he wants to help families hurt by the housing crisis under his HOME Plan.
“„He is optimistic and knows that we all, "unidos," together, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, can find a better way to fill up our tanks, our shopping carts, and our dreams.
“„That’s why in (Nevada/New Mexico), "Estamos Unidos con John McCain."
“„JOHN MCCAIN: I’m John McCain and I approve this message.
“„ANNCR: Paid for by John McCain 2008.
“„En español:
“„ANNCR: Cuando estamos comprando en el supermercado, no tenemos partido poltico. Cuando estamos llenando el tanque de la gasolina, no somos Republicanos, Demcratas o Independientes. Somos Hispanos y estamos sufriendo juntos en estos tiempos de incertidumbre econmica. Necesitamos a alguien que tenga un buen plan econmico, ese alguien es John McCain. Su plan es realista, no poltico y ayudar a reactivar la economa local y nacional.
“„l propuso al Congreso quitar el impuesto de la gasolina en los meses de verano. Quiere que las familias de clase media paguen menos impuestos para que tengamos ms dinero en nuestra bolsa y menos dinero (para la burocracia en) Washington. Y con su plan llamado H.O.M.E. quiere ayudar a las familias que estn padeciendo la crisis hipotecaria.
“„John McCain es optimista y sabe que todos unidos, Republicanos, Demcratas e Independientes, podemos encontrar soluciones para llenar nuestros tanques de gasolina, nuestros carritos del supermercado y nuestros sueos.
“„Por eso en Nevada/Nuevo Mxico, Estamos Unidos con John McCain.
“„JOHN MCCAIN: I’m John McCain and I approve this message.
“„ANNCR: Paid for by John McCain 2008.
One interesting note: Even in a Spanish-language ad, McCain speaks English.
