McCain To Discuss Economy, Immigration at Latino Convention
(WASHINGTON) – John McCain will speak to the country's largest and oldest Hispanic advocacy group today, hoping to attract voters in what could be a key demographic in November.
"I understand the issues, I understand the patriotism, I understand all of the issues that effect Hispanic Latino voters, and I was very happy in the primaries to receive an overwhelming majority of the Hispanic votes in those primaries because they know me and they know me well," McCain said last week. "Sen. Obama has little or no encounters with their issues."
Despite that assertion, polling numbers indicate Hispanic voters have been moving towards the Democratic Party. Close to 60% of Hispanic registered voters now call themselves Democrats or say they lean to the Democratic Party, while just 23% align with the Republican Party, according to a survey done by the Pew Hispanic Center in December.
When McCain speaks to the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Convention at noon today (Obama addresses the group at 4:30pm), he will continue to talk about his economic policies but will also address immigration.
"I and many other colleagues twice attempted to pass comprehensive immigration legislation to fix our broken borders; ensure respect for the laws of this country; recognize the important economic necessity of immigrant laborers; apprehend those who came here illegally to commit crimes; and deal practically and humanely with those who came here," McCain will say, according to excerpts released by the campaign. "We must prove to them that we can and will secure our borders first, while respecting the dignity and rights of citizens and legal residents of the United States."