One GOP Lawmaker Shows How to Woo Latino Voters (Pearce, NM)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | March 11, 2013 | Neil King Jr.

[CedarDave]

LAS CRUCES, N.M.—Rep. Steve Pearce is the rarest of Republican Party officeholders, a very conservative Anglo who keeps winning elections from a predominantly Latino electorate.

As the national GOP seeks to improve its dismal standing with Hispanic voters, the 65-year-old former oil man has some advice.

"You just have to show up, all the time, everywhere," he said, during a recent barnstorm tour of his district, which sprawls across the southern half of this border state. "Most Republicans don't bother. I do. I bother."

Republicans must spend time in Latino neighborhoods with the respectful attentiveness of a small-town mayor.

"We have to sell ourselves," he said. It will take hard work, he added, because the majority of Hispanics are "spring-loaded" to favor the Democrats and their more expansive view of government.

During last year's presidential campaign, Mr. Pearce lured Mr. Romney to Hobbs, where the GOP presidential nominee rolled out his energy plan last fall. But Mr. Pearce said he failed to persuade Mr. Romney "to get out and really mix it up in the Hispanic community."

Mr. Pearce said he kept telling Mr. Romney and his staff, " 'C'mon, man, get out there. Talk about it. Do it.' But they never did."

[CedarDave]

Though from March 2013, it's an excellent article on Pearce that shows his diligence in caring for his district with a one-on-one approach that pays off. He just won again last Tuesday defeating the Dem by a 30 point margin (see link below). Dems complain he doesn't represent liberal Dem values (he doesn't, very conservative even voting against Boehner for speaker) but he appeals to the voters with his attention to their concerns and his message of education, work and self-reliance to get ahead.

Pearce’s huge win over Lara confounds Democratic pundits (R, NM-2)

[Tijeras_Slim]

He’s the only NM congress Critter who still does real town halls and lots of them.

[Red Badger]

Press the flesh, kiss the babies, eat rubber chicken.............

[cloudmountain]

Recipe for GOP success.

[CedarDave]

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[CedarDave]

Press the flesh, kiss the babies, eat rubber chicken.............

Ah, enchiladas, tacos and burritos with green chile! ;>))

[BobL]

I DO NOT like the implication, which is that Republicans getting Hispanic votes is an oddity.

Sorry, but EVERY REPUBLICAN that ran statewide in Texas got at least 40% of the Hispanic vote, with the most conservative of them all (by far), Dan Patrick, winning 46%. Maybe not quite a majority, but when the above numbers are combined with 75% of whites, it is GAME OVER for the Dems, which is why every Republican running in Texas (statewide) won by at least 20 points.

[GeronL]

Dan Patrick won a majority of Hispanic male votes in Texas and he is a firebrand against amnesty and in-state tuition for illegals.

[Red Badger]

Ah, enchiladas, tacos and burritos with green chile! ;>))

Wouldn't that appear to be 'pandering' to a ethnic group?

Like serving fried chicken and watermelon at a NAACP event?...........;^)