by Raúl Reyes
I am going to miss Bill Richardson. The New Mexico governor ran quirky campaign ads depicting being interviewed for the job of president — and being rejected as overqualified. After being passed over for questioning during an Iowa forum, he drew laughs when he asked if “the brown guy” could speak. And in the testy New Hampshire debate, the ex-diplomat lightened the mood by noting that he had been in “hostage negotiations that were a lot more civil than this.” In contrast to the Democratic frontrunners, nobody ever questioned Richardson’s likeability or experience. Yet he didn’t have Hillary’s name recognition, Obama’s charisma, or Edwards’ charm.
Not only did Richardson fail to gain traction with voters before leaving the race, he didn’t click with Latinos much, either. Last year, a USA Today poll found that six out of ten Hispanics had never heard of the former congressman, United Nations ambassador, and Cabinet member. Ironically it is on the heels of Richardson’s exit that the presidential race moves on to Nevada, where Latinos constitute 12 percent of the electorate. On the same day that Richardson left the race, Hillary Clinton was in a Hispanic neighborhood in Las Vegas, knocking on doors and visiting a Mexican restaurant. I appreciate Señora Clinton’s efforts to court the Hispanic vote. Her campaign manager is a Latina, and she has collected endorsements from national figures like Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and U.S. Senator Bob Menéndez of New Jersey.
Up to now, Hillary has been by far the candidate of choice among Latino Democrats. USA Today put her Hispanic support at 59 percent, while Obama was a distant second with 13 percent, but that was pre-Iowa and New Hampshire. In Nevada, Obama has won the backing of two key unions, which could help get out the Latino vote in the caucuses. No doubt, Hispanic votes are critical to the Democratic candidates. The new primary calendar means that states with large Hispanic populations will be voting earlier than usual.
What’s more, Latinos are flocking back to the Democratic Party. According to the Pew Center, 57 percent of Hispanics are Democrats or lean that way, while just 23 percent now identify as Republicans. This reverses Hispanic gains the GOP has made in recent years. Pew attributes the change to the Republicans’ harsh stance on immigration. Another Pew study found nearly two-thirds of Latinos believing that the failure of comprehensive reform has made life harder for all Hispanics. The majority worried about themselves, a friend or a relative being deported. Latino voters may well be influential swing voters in the general election. In 2004 George W. Bush carried New Mexico, Florida, Nevada and Colorado — all states with a significant Hispanic electorate — by margins of five points or less. No matter what the outcome of the 2008 race, I will remember Governor Richardson as an exemplary presence. From start to finish, he ran a positive campaign. While demonstrating that a Latino could be qualified for president, he sought to be the candidate of all Americans.
I was especially proud of him when he ended his run by thanking each of his rivals and que dios los bendiga, may God bless you. These were gracious words from a true Hispanic hero. Hispanic Link.
(Raúl Reyes is an attorney in New York City. Reach him at rarplace@aol.com). ©2008
