Gov. Richardson Visits NH Latinos for Obama Campaign

Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico spoke to Latinos in Nashua, NH, for the Obama campaign on Sept. 23, 2008. In attendance was Roberto Fuentes, left, who is running for state representative. (photos: Eduardo de Oliveira, EthnicNEWz.org)

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson seemed to be at home during a visit at Adult Learning Center, in Nashua, NH, on Sept. 23, 2008.

"I am here because Obama ‘es un de nosotros' [one of us]," he said.

The meeting was a rally for the Obama campaign. But it looked like a chat amongst Latino amigos. Dominican food from Caribbean Tropical Café was served, and Richardson offered the microphone to many community leaders.

To show what the future of the Latino community in Nashua looks like, Richardson pointed out a young leader in the audience, Roberto Fuentes, 23.

"I can bring a fresh perspective, and that's what a lot of people are looking for," Fuentes, a candidate for state representative in Nashua's district 21, ward 2, told EthnicNEWz.org

Fuentes rejected any reference to his inexperience. So far in his relatively brief professional life, Fuentes has worked at Market Basket grocery store, as a sales rep for Sears, and as a substitute teacher for the Nashua school district.

"I'm just as prepared as anybody else. I know the issues and what I believe in," Fuentes said.

For the past weeks, New Hampshire has become one of the most contested battleground states for the two presidential candidates, along with Colorado, Virginia and New Mexico.

Democrats bet that by addressing the issues that Hispanics care about, Obama might attract the same Latinos who supported Hilary Clinton in the primaries.

Eva Castillo, an advocate for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition in Manchester, NH, would like to see Obama speak more about immigration reform..

"That's one issue I want the Obama campaign to talk more about, because I haven't heard it."

But Margarita Hernandez, a chairperson for New Hampshire Gov. Lynch's commission for Latino affairs, has a theory to explain the Democrats' silence on the issue. "Republicans are using the issue to push white people against Democrats. We need to do something and not use the immigration debate just to get votes."

Richardson disputed such a silence exists. "We are talking about it in the Southwest," he said.

He laid out Obama's three-point plan on immigration:

"First, we have to promote an increase in legal immigration; second, we need security in the border, more patrol and technology, but not a fence; and third, we need a path to citizenship [for] the 12 million undocumented immigrants, not automatic, but after they learn English and pay back taxes."

Richardson said that promoting immigration reform in Obama's first 100 days in office is do-able. "Obama can inspire voters and attract bipartisan support. He can get this done."

Guatemalan Luis Torres has lived in Nashua for 15 years. He felt a connection to Obama's rhetoric during a speech the Illinois senator had delivered in Washington, D.C.

"In the occasion, Obama said that each Hispanic kid who drops out of school is not hurting only Latino families, but the country as a whole."

Torres, an outreach worker for Nashua Health Department, does not know what Obama can say to convince more Latinos to get on board, but he "hopes Latinos would give Obama a chance, because he's minority like us."

This is not the first time that the Adult Learning Center -- an English school at which two thirds of its students are Hispanic and Brazilian -- has hosted a national political figure. First Ladies Hilary Clinton and Barbara Bush have visited the school, too.

Jim Chisholm and David Contant, who teach civics and government at Clearway High School, felt it was important for their students to see Richardson speak. They brought about 15 of them to the event.

"It's important for somebody new into the system to see a figure of national prominence, someone who has negotiated with foreign leaders and met Saddam Hussein," said Chisholm.

The war in Iraq and health care are on the top of the kids' list of priorities, the teachers said.

For Bill Richardson, the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as vice presidential candidate "was clearly made to energize the Republican base," which, he says, "had real doubts about McCain."

Then, Richardson carefully measured his words. "I think she's, uh, in my opinion, she's, uh, ... smart and telegenic. But she doesn't have national security experience to be vice president."

Perhaps Roberto Fuentes, son of a Salvadoran father and a Guatemalan mother, can describe better than Richardson did what Obama's candidacy represents to young voters.

"Obama is the youth's version of JFK or Ronald Reagan."

source: EthnicNEWz.org

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Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico spoke to Obama supporters during a meeting with Latinos in Nashua, NH. (photos: Eduardo de Oliveira, EthnicNEWz.org)