Many Latinos wait for field to thin before picking presidential candidate
The day before the New Hampshire primary, a popular Brazilian radio show aired through WSRO 650 AM conducted a poll among is listeners and gave the victory to Hillary Clinton.
The unscientific poll, conducted when most pundits and surveys were reporting Clinton's defeat to Barack Obama, underscores that Latinos are closely following the 2008 presidential campaign, and that they maybe onto something.
Of 39 people who called radio host Wando Resende on Monday early afternoon to choose among Democrats Clinton and Obama and Republicans Mitt Romney and John McCain, 28 voted for Clinton, 10 for Obama, and one for McCain. Romney didn't get any votes.
But like most Americans, Latinos are still undecided. With more primaries to go until both Democrats and Republicans nominate their presidential candidates at their respective conventions, Latinos are waiting for the races to help produce clear frontrunners.
In Framingham, local Latino leader Laura Medrano said she will campaign for whoever is nominated by the Democrats. Though she favors New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, she knows he doesn't have much of a chance.
``I'll support whomever gets the nomination,'' she said. ``Many Latinos like Clinton because of her experience, but some are discovering Obama.''
In Waltham, Carlos Linera, a mortgage broker, said he's also undecided. One thing he knows: He might vote for a Republican candidate if Democrats choose Obama over Clinton. Linera was disappointed when Obama won the Iowa Democratic Caucus last week.
``He looks cute, he talks great, but he doesn't have enough experience to lead the free world,'' said Linera. ``If Hillary chooses Richardson as her running mate, that'd be a good ticket to support.''
According to a recent report by the Pew Hispanic Center, Latinos make up 15 percent of the U.S. population, but because many are undocumented, not U.S. citizens, and younger, they only represent 9 percent of American eligible voters. Still, in some states with large Latino populations, Latinos could be a swing vote - if they go to the polls.
Turnout among Latino voters is low in many areas. Some advocates said it could be lower next November because many are still reeling from the failure of immigration reform last year and they don't expect candidates to tackle the controversial issue during the campaign.
``People feel there aren't any candidates that want to help them,'' said Paula Mendoza, a Latino activist in Waltham. ``There is a pessimistic feeling.''
There is considerable uncertainty, too, said Pastor Jorge Gilson, who runs a Brazilian church in Milford.
``It looks like Republicans won't do anything to help immigrants,'' he said. ``We'd like to believe that Democrats would help immigrants but we don't know.''
During the campaign, most Republican candidates, with the exception of McCain, have supported stricter immigration controls and opposed legalization or amnesty for illegal immigrants. Democratic frontrunners Clinton and Obama have put more emphasis on the economy, the war in Iraq and health care as the top issues facing the nation.
Most Latinos agree, but for many, immigration remains at the top of their agenda, said Wolfgang Tomich, a Brazilian-born U.S. citizen who lives in Framingham.
``We all know someone who doesn't have papers,'' he said. ``We do care about the economy and health care, but we also look for a candidate that would bring hope and a proposal for immigration reform.''
Liz Mineo can be reached at (508) 626-3825 or lmineo@cnc.com.
MetroWest Daily News