Obama Returns To the Lone Star State
SAN ANTONIO, TEX. -- Barack Obama began courting voters in Texas today, where early voting for the March 4th primary began. Even though Obama was in President Bush's home state, Obama didn't shy away from criticizing him.
"I love Texas but I want you all to take him back!" Obama said to a crowd of thousands.
Today was Obama's first visit to Texas since November, a state with 193 pledged delegates up for grabs. His greatest obstacle in the primary could be picking up the Hispanic vote. In past contests, Hillary Clinton has outperformed Obama with Latino voters.
Obama hosted an economic roundtable and a town hall meeting in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood in San Antonio. He made a concerted effort to show differences between himself and Hillary Clinton. At the roundtable, Obama called Clinton's proposal to freeze mortgage rates "disastrous".
"She says we need to freeze the monthly rate on existing adjustable rate mortgages for at least five years," Obama said.
"That will reward folks who made this problem worse and it will also reward folks who are wealthy and don't need it - but it won't target the struggling homeowners who need help most."
At the town hall meeting, Obama called Clinton a "capable and smart person," but argued that he will be able to attract more independent and Republican voters in a general election.
"What we need right now is somebody who can bring the country together, who can get past some of the old arguments, some of the old bickering, some of the old polarization," Obama said.
"I also think that I can attract independents and Republicans in a way that she can't do and if you are running against John McCain you have to attract independents and Republicans in order to win."
Throughout both events, Obama spoke of issues that are of particular interest to Hispanic voters. He said bilingual education is critical in early education and spoke about helping young people who are trapped in "barrios."
Even though he tried his best to throw in a line or two in Spanish, Obama made a blunder near the end when he mistakenly used the word "siesta" for "fiesta."
"We are having a little siesta out here, a little party," Obama joked with the crowd.