La Raza moves to mobilize Hispanic voters
BY CASEY WOODS
cwoods@MiamiHerald.com

The leader of the country's largest Latino civil rights organization launched a new campaign to mobilize Hispanic voters in the 2008 presidential elections Tuesday at an event in Miami.

''It's now time for the community to engage deeper in civic engagement . . . to show our political muscle in the next elections,'' National Council of La Raza President Janet Murguia said at a news conference at the Freedom Tower in downtown Miami.

NCLR'S new campaign is the second part of an effort to naturalize, register and mobilize millions of immigrant voters -- most of them Hispanic -- for next year's presidential elections.

Murguia was in Miami to prepare for NCLR's upcoming convention, which will run July 21-24 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. More than 23,000 activists, elected officials and business leaders are expected to attend.

Speakers include Gov. Charlie Crist, Wal-Mart President Lee Scott, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama.

The Republican presidential contenders are expected to be no-shows at the second major gathering of Hispanic leaders in Florida this year.

None of the Republican candidates -- but all of the leading Democrats -- addressed the National Association of Latino and Elected Officials in Orlando last month.

''We haven't given up, but we're very disappointed that the Republican candidates are not inclined to come,'' said Lisa Navarette, La Raza's vice president. ``We don't think that's the smart move.''

Miami Herald political writer Beth Reinhard contributed to this report.

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