Many Latinos ambivalent about election

SJ Mercury News ^ | 11/01/02 | Michael Bazeley and Edwin Garcia

[NormsRevenge]

Volunteers make calls to potential voters at a phone banking session at the South bay Labor Council; Wednesday October 30, they were targeting Latino voters.

California's Latino voters, viewed as a growing force in the state's politics, are finding it hard to muster enthusiasm for this election.

[NormsRevenge]

``Latino voters are often late deciders,'' DiCamillo said. ``In my experience, they always come home.''

Define "Home" .. Is that South or North of the border ;-?

[HighRoadToChina]

Let pray for LOTS of rain in Los Angeles throughout Election Day, November 5, to suppress all those illegals voting for GRAY Davis!

[Texas_Jarhead]

"Yvonne Rios, a third-grade teacher in San Jose's Franklin-McKinley School District, said she feels Davis has put political considerations before the needs of voters. She has debated with friends about how to vote Tuesday.

``There is a big chance I won't vote for Davis,'' Rios, 39, said as she helped students construct a Da de los Muertos altar this week. ``I wish he was as much for the people as he says he is. You expect him to at least do a majority of the things he said he would do.'"

Isn't tthat special constructing an altar at school to celebrate death.

"`I like the governor we have now,' said Leila Yadollahi of San Jose.`He has been really fair. The last one, Pete Wilson, he was bad. This one, he likes Mexican people. And I know for a fact that Mexicans really like him.'"

Well isn't that special. And here I thought this was an AMERICAN election in an AMERICAN state in the UNTIED STATES of AMERICA where only AMERICANS can vote.

[Coop]

A Field Poll released today shows that 27 percent -- more than any other racial or ethnic group in the state -- [of Latinos] are still undecided about the governor's race.

That's a high number of undecideds in a group (especially in CA) that should be "owned" by the Dems. This is good for Simon. Looks like these folks are going to vote for Simon, vote third party, or stay home in significant numbers.

[Coop]

Meant to flag you for the above post.

[kellynla]

Break out the tequila...my lady friend who happens to be Chicana tells me that the naturalized middle class Mexican-Americans are more apt to vote GOP while the illegals haven't a clue. In fact if the candidate does not have an Hispanic name the illegals don't even vote. The smart money is still on Simon but the line is very, very thin. Oh and for those of you hoping for rain don't bank on it...we probably won't get any rain until January if then... we got all of four inches all last year. LOL

[paola]

Bill Simon could have garnered more support from Latino voters if he did not pose with Pete Wilson. Wilson is not the most popular figure in the LAtino community. A negative stereotype among Latino voters regarding Republicans: anti-immigrants = Prop. 187 = Pete Wilson. Republicans know this stereotype is not true. However, Republicans and Bill Simon need to highlight the common values with Latinos. According to the forums held by NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected Officials) and La Opinion in July and August, Latino voters believe that Bill Simon's campaign issues have not resonated with the Latino community.

[Coop]

They're an arm of the Dems, they're supposed to say that. But with 27% undecideds, Davis' message obviously IS resonating, and the Hispanics aren't in love with it.

[Captain Shady]

Illegals are not supposed to be able to vote. Not "SUPPOSED TO" ,but oh well.

[paola]

And how come Bill Simon's message is not resonating with Latinos as much? Gray Davis has paid for a full-page ad on La Opinion in Wednesday's Oct 30th issue. Will Bill Simon consider putting an ad in La Opinion? Steve Westley already has paid for a quarter page on yesterday's issue. NO Republican candidate has paid for an ad in the most influential spanish-language newspaper, La Opinion. Republicans need to reach Latino voters in spanish-language media also.

[Coop]

Republicans are aware of that, and are quite good at it in places like Florida and others. Apparently their limited resources in CA are better used elsewhere. I don't know. Ask someone with the Simon campaign.

[paola]

OK. Then I don't want to hear Republicans complaining that Latinos vote Democrat in Southern California.

[FITZ]

This one, he likes Mexican people. And I know for a fact that Mexicans really like him.

Too bad it isn't an American election anymore and foreigners are taking over our election process. These people can vote in both countries and they've made a mess of their own. So much for assimilation, they're assimilation is with Mexico, the USA means nothing to them except what they can take from it.

[Lurking2Long]

Amen!

[Coop]

Well, I'm not a Republican, but even if I were I would most certainly complain about Hispanics stampeding to the Dem plantation. Sorry if you feel each individual should be catered to. I expect folks to expend effort to make informed votes, but I'm admittedly naive in that approach.