WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee on Tuesday pledged $20 million to find and woo Latino voters in Colorado and three other swing states.
The party, along with presumed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s campaign, aims to register Latino voters, persuade them that Obama aligns better with their issues, and then drive turnout.
“There are 45 million Latinos in the United States,” said Sen. Ken Salazar, a Colorado Democrat who will help in the effort. “They are located in places that are going to be very critical to the election of the next president of the United States.”
In addition to Colorado, Democrats will target New Mexico, Nevada and Florida.
Presumptive GOP nominee John McCain is making a push in the same states, and his campaign said he will attract voters with his positions on the economy, keeping taxes low and energy.
Targeting Latinos is increasingly important, with the group representing the fastest-growing voter segment. But two-thirds of those Latinos are in four states that are not expected to be competitive in November: California, Texas, New York and Illinois.
That makes Latinos in swing states a bigger attraction.
Latinos in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Florida were from 8 percent to more than 30 percent of voters in 2004, according to exit polls reported by The Associated Press.
“The Latino vote will be crucial to the presidential election in those four states,” said Matt Barreto, a University of Washington professor who tracks Latino voting behavior.
Deciphering what worked with Latino voters also is difficult, Barreto said. After a Democratic push in 2004, more Latinos voted that year than in any previous election, he said. But the percent of Latinos supporting Democratic nominee John Kerry fell from those backing Democrat Al Gore in 2000.
The Republican effort in 2004 was stronger than the Democratic one, Barreto said, with more money spent and more connections to voters made.
Democrats this cycle appear to have an early edge with Latinos. In a poll released last week by Pew Hispanic Center, Latino registered voters favored Obama over McCain 66 percent to 23 percent.
Democratic leaders said this year’s Latino vote effort would be different from those in the past because it will start at the grass roots.
In an upcoming campaign push for Obama in Colorado, Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., said she would talk particularly to Latino women about jobs, education, health care and the Supreme Court. Immigration reform will also be an issue, Latino campaigners said.
In Colorado, the GOP camp has opened an office in El Paso County and plans to open others in the state.
Anne C. Mulkern: 202-662-8907 or amulkern@denverpost.com
