Republican Politicians Show Up to Help Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
On October 2nd, 2014, Republican politicians showed up at the Republican headquarters in Hackensack, New Jersey to help celebrate Hispanic heritage month. Republican nominee for state senate...
By: Julio Reynoso
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Republican Politicians Show Up to Help Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month - Video
RIO GRANDE CITY, Tex. Ruben Villarreal knew he was different, and it had nothing to do with his curlicue mustache. The Latino tire-shop owner with the ten- gallon hat had been mayor of this border town for several years before he dared to discuss his political affiliation. He felt like a cactus around balloons.
Its not easy being Republican, he said, when everybodys a Democrat.
As long as anyone can remember, the South Texas counties that make up the Rio Grande Valley have been two things: Hispanic and blue-as-the-big-sky Democrat. In Hidalgo County, along the Rio Grande, the locals say a Republican hasnt won a countywide office in recent memory. Even though Republican governors have led Texas for two decades, their best showing among Hispanic voters was in 1998 with George W. Bush, who didnt even win half.
But this year, Republican nominee Greg Abbott, the states attorney general, has set out to break Bushs record by making the rapidly growing Hispanic vote and the Rio Grande Valley central to his campaign. The day after Abbott announced his candidacy in San Antonio, he was in McAllen, on the Mexican border. He has visited the area 14 times during the campaign, most recently for his first debate with the Democratic candidate, state Sen. Wendy Davis.
He has also aired six Spanish-language TV ads, including one featuring his Latina mother-in-law that premiered during the Mexico-Brazil World Cup match in June. (His values are our values. Faith, family and honesty, his sister-in-law Rosie Phalen says in the ad.)
Daviss team has also aggressively courted Hispanics, with radio and television ads, a Spanish-language Web site and 13 visits to the valley.
The situation has surprised locals who are accustomed to being a sideshow in big elections.
This is the first time in my memory ... that weve had the interest of the politicians, said McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, who has endorsed Abbott and whose office is nonpartisan. For years, the Democrats kind of took our county for granted, and the Republicans didnt think theyd make any inroads.
Abbotts outreach reflects the growing power of the Hispanic vote in Texas, as well as an effort to preempt the Davis campaigns characterization of him as anti-immigrant. But in this heavily Hispanic area, hes still at a disadvantage.
The Davis campaign has four times the staff in the Rio Grande Valley and endorsements from more than 70 local leaders. Even though she didnt fare well in the primary in South Texas, Davis received far more total votes than Abbott. A recent poll showed her leading by more than 2 to 1 among Hispanic voters.
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Can a Republican win the Hispanic vote in Texas?
NEWS
Reince Priebus says party looks good in November; Needs to attract Hispanics
Posted YESTERDAY, 6:46 PM Updated YESTERDAY, 6:46 PM
SAN ANTONIO - Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus spoke to a gathering of chambers of commerce members at Oak Hills Country Club Friday, and told attendees the Republican party is strong and expects to take control of the U.S. Senate after Novembers elections.
The Republican party chief quickly took on President Barack Obama, saying the president has promised much but delivered little.
He also took a shot at Democratic candidate for Texas governor, Wendy Davis.
"I think Wendy Davis has run one of the worst campaigns for the entire year," Priebus said.
Priebus also talked about a certain quality needed in the 2016 Republican presidential nominee.
"Having a candidate on the ballot that people like and want to have a beer with," Priebus said.
And he said despite the good forecast there are areas where Republicans need to improve.
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Republican National Committee chair speaks to SA audience
Louisville Metro Councils District Nine has been a Democratic stronghold for years.
But thats not dissuading Republican Laura Rice from running for the seat, or giving Democrat Bill Hollander a false sense of entitlement.
Hollander says hes been campaigning every day -- knocking on doors, attending public events and reaching out to voters in the district.
We're working hard, he said. The only way to win any race in my opinion is to pretend like you're 20 points behind.
Nobody is handicapping the race, but retiring Democrat Tina Ward-Pugh easily won election to three terms on the Louisville Metro Council after being elected to the City of Louisvilles Board of Aldermen in 1999.
The popular Democrat beat her Republican opponent by 6,985 votes to 4,046 votes in 2002. She didnt have a Republican challenger in 2006, and beat her conservative contestant in 2010 by 7,621 votes to 4,226 votes, according to the Jefferson County Board of Elections.
Still, Rice believes she has a few factors in her favor.
Despite the fact that I'm a Republican, I do think a lot of Democrats are going to cross party lines in this race in particular, she said.
She points to 2011 redistricting, which added some conservative precincts from Republican Ken Flemings seventh district to the edge of the ninth district.
She also believes many voters will want to keep a woman in the seat because men already dominate the council by a 16:10 ratio.
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Republican, Democrat square off in traditionally Democratic Ninth District
N.C. Republican says rival "kept quiet" on ISIS
John King, Julie Pace and Ron Fournier on a new Thom Tillis attack ad against North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan.
By: CNN
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N.C. Republican says rival "kept quiet" on ISIS - Video