Democrats Focus on Hispanic Communities

The Democratic Party is focusing in on the Hispanic population in key states, including Nevada. New Obama television and radio ads began running in Spanish to appeal to the growing Latino community there. The ad addresses the economy and health care and mocks a statement by McCain that the fundamentals of the economy are strong.

Key issues to the Hispanic population include health care, education, immigration, and a sense of family. Nevada’s 11th District Assembly Member Ruben Kihuen is popular among the Hispanic community. Born in Mexico, Kihuen credits his success to his “personal touch” while campaigning. He says he knocked on doors and spoke with people then would follow up by writing each person a thank you note. Ultimately, Kihuen endorsed Clinton for president.

Community leaders such as Kihuen could have an impact on the turnout of the Hispanic voters in November. CNN reports Hispanics as making up 12% of eligible voters in Nevada and so turnout is crucial to the Obama campaign. A big hurdle is voter registration, and many cannot vote due to their illegal status.

Obama will need to continue rallying the Hispanic community and garnering the support of those who previously endorsed Hillary Clinton. The family ties Obama implies in his Spanish ad might help with addressing the personal touch Kihuen has been so successful with. Over the next few weeks the Obama campaign will need to watch carefully how effective the ads are in these communities and keep promoting voter registration to have influence in this swing state.

Palin Goes Solo in Nevada

Palin made her solo debut in Nevada on Saturday and drew a capacity crowd of 3,500 in the Pony Express Pavilion in Carson City.

The GOP VP nominee talked about breaking the glass ceiling for women and revisted her points from the Convention speech. She reminded the crowd she isn't one of the good 'ol boys and promised to end corruption in Washington. She also talked about how she killed the bill for the "Bridge to Nowhere" and put up the governor's jet on Ebay. Read Palin's entire speech here.

The race remains close in Nevada, a recent Zogby International poll has McCain at 50.1% and Obama at 42.5% but a CNN/Time poll in late August showed Obama favored 49% to McCain at 44%.

50 Days To Go

There are 50 days to go until the presidential election, and Nevada is leaning toward McCain.

Polls show McCain currently in the lead with 47% and Obama with 44.7% although the two have remained in a close race the past few months.

Historically Nevada was a Democratic state, but in recent years has moved toward a more conservative political ideology. In the 1992 presidential election Clinton received 37.36% of the vote, Bush received 34.73% and Perot received 26.19%. Clinton took Nevada again in 1996 with 43.93% of the vote, Dole received 42.91% and Perot got 9.47%. In 2000 Bush won the state with 50% of the vote, Gore received 46% and Nader received 2%. Bush took Nevada again in 2004 with 50%, Kerry received 48% and Nader received 1%.

The key issue in the past few elections was the proposed site of the Yucca Mountains as a nuclear waste repository. Clinton promised to veto a temporary site in Nevada, as did Bush in 2000. As of May 2002, the Yucca Mountains became the permanent site, however, it is not supposed to be open until 2012. The date could also be delayed, especially with Harry Reid as the majority leader now. Click here to read more about the Yucca Mountain issue.