Hispanics Expand the Presidential Landscape

 

	Dear Phillip, Many of you have inquired about recent Hispanic voting trends throughout this presidential primary cycle. The DNC is proud of the record-breaking turnout in state after state. Moreover, where Hispanics once influenced small regions of the country, we are now impacting a much broader portion of the electoral map in key states like Arizona, Nevada, Virginia and Texas to name a few. Today the question is no longer whether the sleeping giant has awakened. Today's question is where Hispanics will not play a role in electing the next president of the United States. One thing is for certain; just four years ago, pundits could only cite New Mexico as a battleground state where Hispanics could impact the outcome of the race. Make no mistake; November 2008 will be the year of the Hispanic voter where the outcomes in states like Nevada, Virginia, Colorado and Minnesota will hinge on the Hispanic vote. Our next edition of the DNC Hispanic Leadership Wire will provide you a more thorough analysis of Hispanic electoral voting trends during the presidential primary. Hispanic Republicans Flocking to the Democratic Party When will the Republican Party get the message? Much has been reported about the anti-immigrant rhetoric that plagued the Republican presidential primary. Despite witnessing their majorities in both chambers of Congress evaporate, the Republican presidential candidates didn't quite get the message. What do these men have in common? Whether we're talking about Tom Tancredo, Fred Thompson, Duncan Hunter or Mike Huckabee... they all lost. The last man standing is Senator John McCain, who was absent during the most recent efforts by the Senate to push through comprehensive immigration reform. The Senator from Arizona's so-called Straight Talk Express took a wrong turn last year and instead focused on shifting his position to appease the racist wing of the Republican Party. DNC Hispanic Leadership Council In 2004 Governor Howard Dean's presidential campaign revolutionized the phenomenon of online organizing. Aided by Hispanic leaders, the DNC re-launched the DNC Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008. The DNC Hispanic Leadership Council recognizes the loyalty, dedication, and generous contributions of the Hispanic community to the Democratic Party. Council members are a dynamic group of Hispanic professionals, entrepreneurs, activists, and community leaders who represent citizens of Hispanic descent across the nation. The Council's Board and membership are committed to the following goals: Maximize investments from the Hispanic community in the DNC and the Democratic Party; Advance the shared ideals and values of the Democratic Party and the Hispanic community; Encourage and increase the participation of the Hispanic community in Democratic politics and the electoral process (including running for office). In the 2008 election cycle, the Council will directly advise and support the DNC's efforts to strengthen and expand the Democratic Party and elect a Democratic President. For more information or if you wish to get involved in this effort, contact Albert Morales at MoralesA@dnc.org. Democratic Convention Launches New Website Furthering its commitment to engage a broad spectrum of communities in new and creative ways, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) recently unveiled its new website at www.DemConvention.com featuring a dynamic new look and including extensive Spanish language content. The website will be the cornerstone of the 2008 Democratic National Convention's online communications efforts, combining technology from a variety of platforms to engage constituencies in Denver and across the country in meaningful and innovative ways in the lead up to and during Convention week - August 25-28, 2008. Hispanic Task Force on Voting Rights The DNC's National Lawyers Council (NLC) is recruiting volunteers in all fifty states to ensure that every eligible voter has an opportunity to cast their ballot and know that it counts. The NLC will focus special attention to needs of Hispanic voters who are increasingly targets of suppression and intimidation tactics. With close elections becoming more common and Republican dirty tricks becoming more sophisticated, the NLC is building on its 2004 and 2006 successes NOW to develop the most robust national network of voting rights activists. Integrating plans with the national, state, and local party, the NLC works to promote voting and to identify and combat potential problems. Lawyers are involved in a variety of projects including monitoring election administration, working with local boards of elections to make voting more accessible, and creating up-to-date election manuals and strategy memos for targeted voter protection efforts. Please let us know if you are bilingual. To get involved sign up at http://www.democrats.org/nlc or contact DNC Deputy Political Director for Voter Protection, Anna Martinez at MartinezA@dnc.org. Andres Ramirez Joins NDN as Vice President of Hispanic Programs Our congratulations goes to a rising star within the Democratic Party. Andres Ramirez recently joined NDN as their new Vice President of Hispanic Programs. Andres has big shoes to fill as he takes the reins from Joe Garcia who formerly headed that effort. Joe has taken on the fight in his home town of Miami, Florida where he is running for Congress against Mario Diaz-Balart. More recently, Andres served as Outreach Director for the Nevada State Democratic Party where he was responsible for helping implement the 2008 Nevada Democratic Presidential Caucuses, and creating a plan for engaging and mobilizing Latinos in the Caucus. We wish him well in this new endeavor. The DNC is Recruiting Interns The DNC is currently accepting applications for our summer 2008 internship session. With the Presidential Election ahead, the DNC is a busy and vibrant place. Interns are a vital part of the team at the DNC and work in all departments. This exciting and enriching experience in politics is an opportunity to get an insider's view of the Democratic Party and to make valuable life long connections. The DNC internship program encompasses every department! Our interns are placed in various departments, including the Internet, Finance, Communications, Political, Research and American Majority Partnership. Get your application in now! Applications for the summer session are due on March 15th. Please visit the DNC website at http://www.democrats.org/interns for an application and to learn more. Please give us your feedback The DNC is eager to reclaim the White House and provide a new direction for America. Our staff is busy working with our state parties to ensure we are ready to hit the ground running once we have a nominee. Your feedback on grassroots activities we can implement around the convention and ultimately Election Day are essential to our victory in November. Send us your thoughts and ideas at MoralesA@dnc.org. Democratically yours, Albert Morales
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