Jan 3, 2008 5:26 pm US/Central
Hispanic Vote Could Have Big Impact On Elections
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
With immigration a hot-button issue in this campaign, Latinos could be pivotal in the upcoming presidential election. CBS 2's Rafael Romo looks at how Hispanic voters in Chicago are weighing their decision.
As a freshman at Princeton University majoring in political science, Manuel Perez says his choice is clear.
"If we're looking at Hillary and Obama, I think Obama speaks more to a younger crowd," Perez said. "His message is more resonant with a younger crowd."
But the choice for Hispanics voters in Illinois between Clinton and Obama is not so clear.
"At this moment I'm undecided," said Illinois voter Rita Maldonado.
Obama alienated many Hispanic voters in 2006 when he voted in favor of a 2,000 mile fence along the Mexican border.
But many came back to his side after a speech he gave about immigration in front of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials.
"And said not only am I going to deal with comprehensive immigration reform, not only am I going to deal in my first term, I'm going to deal with it in my first year," said 26th Ward Ald. Billy Ocasio.
Clinton also voted in favor of the wall, but named a Chicago Hispanic as her campaign manager.
Patti Solis Doyle, whose brother is Ald. Danny Solis. Danny Solis has served as president pro tem of the Chicago City Council.
"She's the first Latino woman to run a major presidential campaign and Hillary had the wisdom and the confidence to see that she could do the job," Danny Solis said.
Dr. Juan Andrade, a national expert on Latino politics with the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute, says most Latino voters in Illinois are supporting Clinton, while the political establishment is with Obama.
"They're just not going to defy the political leadership in the city and the state because they have jobs to do," Andrade said. "At the end of the day they're still an alderman, they're still a state legislator."
According to the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute, there are an estimated 350,000 registered Latino voters in Illinois, more than 200,000 in the city of Chicago alone. More than 70 percent of those voters cast their ballots as Democrats.
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