Candidates woo Hispanic group


Republican presidential nominee John McCain, center, embraces League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) president representatives at the Washington Hilton Tuesday in Washington, DC. McCain reportedly earned some support from the Latino community when he was one of the major supporters of comprehensive immigration reform legislation that failed to make it through Congress in 2007.


Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, left, gives a "fist bump" to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama during the national convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) at the Washington Hilton Tuesday in Washington, DC. Obama has been recently criticized for moving to the political center after calling for a slowing of withdrawal of troops from Iraq, supporting a proposed wiretap law and government funding of faith-based programs.

Jackson, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Barack Obama and John McCain touted their respective tax plans to a key Hispanic group Tuesday, arguing that their different approaches to the economy would benefit all Americans.

Their speeches before the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's oldest Hispanic advocacy organization, was the latest in a series of addresses planned to reach minority voters. On tap in coming weeks: speeches to the National Council of La Raza and the NAACP, the largest respective Hispanic and African-American civil rights organizations, and Unity: Journalists of Color, a coalition of black, Asian, Latino and Native American journalists.

In 2004, minorities made up nearly a quarter of the electorate, according to surveys of voters as they left polling places. Hispanics are the most sought-after group, with Democrat John Kerry taking 53% of the Latino vote four years ago to President Bush's 44%. Bush increased his Hispanic support by 9 percentage points over 2000.

"Hispanics have been projecting their demographics into political strength," said Janet Murguia, La Raza president and CEO, about the nation's fastest-growing group.

She said they also want "further clarification" from McCain on his stand on immigration. The presumptive Republican nominee had been a leading advocate last year of a plan to expand programs for "guest workers," but he began placing more of an emphasis on border security during the primaries.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: George W Bush | Florida | Colorado | Barack Obama | New Mexico | John McCain | Democrat John Kerry | Native | Latino | Nevada | National Council of La Raza | Citizens | League of United Latin | Hispanic-owned | Janet Murguia
On economics, McCain said the nation's 2 million Hispanic-owned businesses will benefit from lower taxes and less government regulation. His proposals include doubling the child deduction and a $5,000 tax credit for the costs of health insurance.

"If you believe you should pay more taxes, I am the wrong candidate for you," McCain said Tuesday.

Obama said he wants tax cuts for "workers and small-business owners." He criticized McCain's plan as providing "tax breaks to big corporations and the wealthiest Americans."

The candidates also renewed their immigration debate. McCain and Obama both support tougher border security, more guest-worker programs and a path to citizenship for the illegal immigrants already in the USA.

Obama, however, repeated his criticism that McCain has backed away from that comprehensive approach. "We need a president who isn't going to walk away from something as important as comprehensive reform when it becomes politically unpopular," the presumptive Democratic nominee said.

Two hours earlier, McCain launched a pre-emptive defense to Obama's criticism, saying he was unable to get approval for a broad immigration overhaul because too many Americans "did not believe us when we said we would secure our borders."

McCain already has TV and radio ads in Spanish. The ads are running in Nevada, New Mexico and Florida. The Obama campaign is planning its own outreach.

"This election could well be decided by Latino voters," Obama said, citing Florida, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico as key battlegrounds. Bush narrowly won them all four years ago.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/e ... ates_N.htm