Hispanics Rising

National Hispanic advocacy organizations are teaming up with major corporations that recognize the importance of the Hispanic vote during this election cycle.  I thought it worthwhile to post news of this initiative, as reported today by the Washington Post:

Coalition of Latino Groups Launches Voter Drive

By Ed O'Keefe

A multi-million dollar ad campaign designed to encourage voter registration and increased political participation among Latinos who are legal residents launches today nationwide on Spanish-language television and radio stations. The National Association of Latino Elected Officials, in cooperation with National Council of La Raza, Univision, State Farm and other groups will spend $3 to 4 million on the campaign. The coalition will air 30- and 60-second radio ads, as well as public service announcements on Univision, Time Warner Cable, Comcast Cable, and other outlets.  "Every Hispanic family in the United States finds themselves at different points, and we want to help," says one of the State Farm-sponsored radio ads. "It doesn't matter at what point you find yourself here in the United States."  The TV ad calls out to legal residents eager to participate in the American political process, with words on-screen in Spanish stating: "I come from another place. I want a better future. I am full of dreams." 

...A recent Pew Hispanic Center survey reports that registration and turnout among Latinos increased considerably in several large states during this year's primary contests, suggesting turnout will be high again in November.  On the issue of immigration, "It is going to be a mobilizing factor for the Latino vote" because Latinos have been painted unfairly "by a broad brush," said NCLR president Murguia. Her group also donated $1 million to the "Ya es Hora" campaign through a contribution from the Knight Foundation.  While Barack Obama and John McCain "don't touch" immigration as often as they discuss other issues, Murguia says she expects it will be a topic of discussion when both candidates address the annual NCLR conference next weekend.  She also expects immigration could be a determining factor in several down-ballot races in the South and Southwest.  Murguia said she does not expect Latinos to hold large immigration rallies this year on the scale of previous ones.  "The next march needs to be a march to the polls on Nov. 4th," she said.

This week was an historic week in American politics and NDN was in the thick of it all when it came to commenting to the media.

Additionally, several articles on new polls showing U.S. Sen. Barack Obama with a significant lead over U.S. Sen. John McCain among Hispanics validates NDN's recently relesed report, Hispanics Rising II and confirms that while Obama still has work to do to lock down the Hispanic vote, the real onus is on McCain to make up ground with the Hispanic electorate he turned his back on by abandoning his own legislation calling for comprehensive immigration reform.

- In the inevitable post-mortem following Obama's Minneapolis speech, Simon was quoted in a report by Sarah Lai Stirland on the Wired Blog Network about the Obama campaign's groundbreaking use of new tools, particularly the Internet, during the primary. (6/3/08)

- Next up, the Irish Independent wrote about Hillary's tough campaign coming to a halt. (6/3/08)

- Writing for the Boston Globe, Susan Milligan talked to Simon about some of the flaws in the Clinton campaign for Her first steps set stage for fall. (6/3/08)

- The Sydney Morning Herald's Ian Munro quoted Simon in his story about Clinton and her future. Simon said of Clinton, "She has got a very bright future ahead. Democrats are likely to be in control of the House and the Senate for a very long time...I think Senator Clinton has come out of this election as a much more influential individual." (6/4/08)

- Simon also talked to the Telegraph's Toby Harnden about the Democratic primary candidates' campaigns in Harnden's How Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton.

- Rolling Stone's Tim Dickinson talked to Simon about how Obama's challenges in unifying the Democratic party in his piece, Obama’s E Pluribus Challenge. (6/4/08)

- USA Today's Jill Lawrence featured a cover story, Clinton campaign says she's not seeking No. 2 spot, in which Simon said he believed the Clinton campaign had underestimated Obama. (6/4/08)

- Writing again in The Age, Ian Munro asked, What next for second lady? Plenty. (6/5/08)

- Speaking at a political forum in San Francisco at which he was joined by Markos Moulitsas, the founder of Daily Kos, Simon covered a wide range of issues. The San Francisco Chronicle's Carla Marinucci detailed one of Obama's challenges in Obama faces tough task healing rift with women. (6/5/08)

On May 28, NDN released its newly updated report, Hispanics Rising II, which used new demographic and polling data to show that the Hispanic population in the United States is booming, that Hispanics are voting in greater numbers, that Hispanics are trending heavily Democratic and that they are locating in key battleground states. Recent polls, including a new Gallup poll, have affirmed the report.

- Sam Stein, writing for the Huffington Post, included Andres Ramirez, NDN's Vice President for Hispanic Programs, in his report. (6/5/08)

- Writing today, the Los Angeles Time's Peter Wallsten spoke to Simon for his article, Obama leads in battle for Latino vote, which cited several polls showing Obama with a significant lead over McCain among Hispanics. (6/6/08)

- The Hartford Courant also carried Wallsten's report. (6/6/08)

Needless to say, it's been a busy week...