January 30, 2008
Non Debate Update
Ted Kennedy is hitting the trail for Barack Obama tomorrow. He'll be in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M., Thursday, and Los Angeles and Oakland, California Friday.
Kennedy's courting Latino voters. Remember ... HRC was carried to a surprise victory in Nevada by several constituencies, but Hispanics, in particular, gave her a huge boost.
Meanwhile, the Massachusetts senator e-mailed a fundraising letter to voters on Obama's behalf, asking for $50 contributions. "As President Kennedy said in 1960, 'It is time for a new generation of leadership,' Kennedy wrote.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted at 09:26 PM
Comments
How does Kennedy influence Latino?!? Quit repeating a taking point and point me in the direction of real proof. As a Latino, I'm not impressed and everyone I talk to thinks the Clinton name carries more credibility within our community than the name Kennedy, especially when that name is Ted and not Jack.
David | 01.30.08 09:56 PM
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And how exactly is it that venerable senator Kennedy is going to deliver the throngs of Latino voters that Jennifer claims he will? Do you children engage in critical thinking before postings these claims, or you just repeat the conventional wisdom? You would do yourself a favor, and in the meantime become a real journalist, is you challenge the punditry on things like the “Kennedy makes Latinos gaga” nonsense. I have great respect for the good old senator, but, he is not running for jack! Obama is. Frankly, all Hillary has to do is to remind the Latino voters how Barack voted for that border fence that so offended the Mexican American community in California. Make no mistake she will point that out. But please, enough of the Kennedy mystique references. I was not born yet when Jack was president. I have manage to vote in five presidential elections without the need of Ted whispering in my ear. And I intent to do that this year too!
Robert_V | 01.31.08 07:34 AM
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Ted Kennedy may not be a god among Latinos, but he has a great deal of credibility.
My mother and her generation adore the Kennedy name more than any other in politics. Maybe it is the Catholic thing, but she believes JFK was the best president in history. She views RFK as a hero who would have changed the country forever.
Add to that the fact that Ted Kennedy has been our greatest ally in all the recent immigration debates, that he will remind voters that Obama was willing to work hard to try to pass an immigration bill when none of the other candidates would go near it, and it simply adds to the credibility.
No Latino voters will not flock to Obama en masse just because Kennedy says so. We're a mature political community that can think for ourselves. But when a man of Kennedy's stature, who brings a name with such history with our people, decides to expend his energy for a candidate like Obama, it will definitely give Obama a chance for a good look from our community.
Lifelongdem | 01.31.08 10:10 AM
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