Romney speaks Spanish in new Fla. campaign ad
By JORDAN FABIAN
Channel: Politics
MANCHESTER, N.H. — During his campaign in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney dropped several hints that he’s planning to target Latino voters. But his new ad released Wednesday made it abundantly clear.
Romney’s ad, which will be aired in Florida, is in Spanish and features three Cuban-American political leaders; Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Mario Diaz Balart (R-Fla.), as well as former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) Romney’s son Craig, who is fluent in Spanish, provides the main voice over.
“Los Estados Unidos representa libertad, oportunidad, donde todo es posible. Soy Craig Romney. “Mi padre, Mitt Romney cree en esos valores americanos porque los ha vivido y luchará para restaurar la grandeza de nuestra nación,” he says.
Or in English: “The United States represents liberty, opportunity, where anything is possible. I am Craig Romney. My father, Mitt Romney believes in those American values because he has lived them and will fight to restore the greatness of our nation.”
Romney also speaks a bit of Spanish himself at the end of the spot: “Soy Mitt Romney y apruebo este mensaje. Muchas gracias.”
Translation: “I’m Mitt Romney and I approve this message. Thank you very much.”
It’s clear from the ad that its primary focus is South Florida’s Cuban-American Republican voters, who could play a deciding role in the Sunshine State’s Jan. 31 primary; over 70 percent of GOP voters in Miami-Dade County are Latino, a group that includes a large bloc of Cubans.
The economy and the U.S.’s handling of Cuba are much more important issues for those voters than immigration. An example, Romney received the endorsements of the Diaz-Balarts and Ros-Lehtinen, who support the DREAM Act, despite the fact he opposes it.
Democrats said Wednesday Romney is not a viable option for Latinos more broadly, citing his endorsement from an architect of the Arizona immigration law, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.
“On the very same day Mitt Romney launched a Spanish-speaking TV ad in Florida, he rolls out the endorsement of one of the most extreme anti-immigrant politicians in the country,” an Obama campaign source said.
Florida has also seen an influx of non-Cuban voters from places like Puerto Rico in recent years who are less Republican than the Cuban community. Romney’s message could double as an appeal to them and Latinos around the country in the lead up to the general election.
Romney is leading his GOP opponents in the Florida primary, and could be looking to the general election following his win in New Hampshire. Florida doubles as a key swing state and Romney and President Obama are virtually deadlocked among Latino voters, according to a new poll released Wednesday.
