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WASHINGTON -- The Census Bureau is recommending that Hispanics be treated as a distinct race, a move that acknowledges the group's growing significance, but could reduce their numbers in future surveys.

The census currently considers "Hispanics" an ethnicity, allowing people to identify both as Hispanic and as a member of a separate racial group. The proposed change would drop the ethnicity question, and simply ask about race, allowing people to check a box next to choices that include black, white, or Hispanic.

The proposal concerns some Hispanic political leaders who fear that it would lead to a lower overall Hispanic count as some people of mixed origin choose to identify as white or black.

"This is a hot-button issue," said Angelo Falcon, president of the National Institute for Latino policy in New York City and a community adviser to the census. "The burden will be on the Census Bureau to come up with evidence that wording changes will not undermine the Latino numbers."

But others doubt it will undermine the numbers because Latinos who are of European, African or indigenous American descent will more likely choose Latino as their race if it's an option.

"There'll be a lot fewer Hispanics checking the white box," said Tomas Jimenez, a sociology professor at Stanford University. He said the proposed change might better reflect how Latinos define themselves. If anything, making Hispanic a race "will probably mean a decrease

The proposal was among several Census Bureau recommendations released Wednesday, stemming from new government research on the best ways to count the nation's demographic groups. The other changes would drop use of "Negro" from census surveys and add write-in categories Arabs and Middle Easterners to specifically identify themselves.

The changes are based on research conducted during the 2010 census that showed many people who filled out the traditional form did not feel they fit within the five government-defined racial categories: white, black, Asian, Pacific Island and Native Indian/Alaska Native.

More than 14 million Californians identified themselves as Latino/Hispanic in the 2010 census, and a growing number, in the race category, are describing themselves as "some other race."

Nationally, about 18 million -- roughly 37 percent -- Latinos used the "some other race" category.

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Census Bureau wants to drop word "Negro," asking Hispanics what race they are

We have a surprisingly full Morning Word today. We lead off with the Senate race, but also have discussion of the NMFA scandal and the State Auditor's Office, the two candidates for the soon-to-be-vacant Supreme Court position and looks at the 3rd Congressional District race and the race for the seat held by the Senate Majority Leader.

I'd be remiss if I didn't know a short look at a short ad -- an NRDC ad going after Heather Wilson on (what else?) MTBE.

I've been watching a lot of Olympics lately, and there is a definite whiplash between seeing the fluffy, positive games that NBC shows (and all full of 'USA! USA!' cheering) to the attack ads. The Wilson ad on the Medical Device Tax seems to be in the heaviest rotation, at least during the Games. It would be interesting to see if negative ads airing very patriotic programming like the Olympics are any less effective than during, say, the evening news.

On to the Word:

An interesting side note, Heinrich spoke to the New Mexican himself, while Wilson's campaign used their spokesman, Chris Sanchez.

Under the proposed system, 342 positions will see their pay range increase, 35 positions will experience no change and 49 positions will see a lowered pay range. A lowered pay range, however, will not necessarily translate into an actual decrease in wages.

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Morning Word, 08-08-12

The race to create the catchiest new word in the 2012 presidential contest is on.

The two latest entries:

From Team Obama comes Romney Hood, coined by President Obama on Monday to describe, in Obamas words, the reverse Robin Hood scenario in which Mitt Romneys tax plan takes from the poor to give to the rich.

And from Team Romney: Obamaloney, which Romney coined Tuesday as shorthand for what he says are the Obama campaigns distortions of his record and policies particularly on taxes. A protester dressed as Robin Hood holds a a sign at the Occupy Ottawa protest in Ottawas Confederation Park on Oct. 15 last year. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Patrick Doyle)

It sounds like all fun and games or even just stupid campaign gimmicks but clever turns of phrase can pay dividends on the campaign trail by crystallizing an issue.

Remember back during the primary debates when former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty criticized Romney for what he labeled Obamneycare? It was a great way to tie Romneys health-care plan to Obamas health-care plan, and the word lives on nearly a year after Pawlentys campaign ended. (In fact, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) even uttered it recently by mistake.)

Part of that is because Pawlentys campaign faltered after he stunningly failed to repeat the attack against Romney at a debate, lending the word significance it might otherwise not have had. But part of it is also because it was clever and reduced a complicated argument (that Romneys and Obamas health-care plans were basically the same thing) to one word.

Thats what Obama and Romney are trying to do with Romney Hood and Obamaloney. And either of them could catch on, depending on how theyre used.

Will they recast the race? No. But they arent harmless sideshows, either. Each campaign would love to have an Obamneycare-like word that really drives home their message provided its not seen as frivolous.

What are some other words that have been coined by presidential campaigns? The comments section awaits ...

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Obama and Romney coin competing terms: ‘Romney Hood’ vs. ‘Obamaloney’

One of the most common questions asked by new Chamber members is, "How can I get the word out about my business?"

Here are ten business promotion ideas that are just some of the ways you can promote your small business without spending a small fortune.

With a little experimentation and time, you'll find out which of these ideas work best for you - and best get the word out about your small business.

1) Use every outgoing piece of paper and every electronic document as business promotion. You have business cards, but you also put out a lot of other documents in the course of doing business.

2) Writing articles on topics related to your business expertise is an excellent business promotion technique. Well-written articles can provide free advertising and build positive word-of-mouth. If you're a realtor, for instance, you could write a piece on preparing your home to be shown. If you're a website designer, you might write a piece about assessing website usability. The more specific your topic, the better.

3) Sending out press releases is another great way to get some free business promotion. The caveat to using press releases as a business promotion tool is that your press release has to actually contain information that is newsworthy. It should also be engaging enough to get people's interest. Has your business recently expanded? Do you have a new product? Have you been involved in some promotional activity such as sponsoring a charity event? Have you or your company recently won an award?

4) If you're an Internet user, spend some of your online time on business promotion. Posting messages in forums (a.k.a. bulletin boards) is a great way to make your business known to people you would otherwise be unable to contact.

5) Use buddy marketing to promote your business. For example, if you send out brochures, you could include a leaflet and/or business card of another business, which had agreed to do the same for you. This gives you the chance to reach a whole new pool of potential customers.

6) Give out freebies as business promotion. We're all familiar with hearing or reading advertisements that promise that the first 50 people to visit a particular store will receive a free (____). You fill in the blank. People love to receive things that are free.

7) Promote your business on a talk show. Our local radio stations or cable TV station may have programs that are looking for guests - a great low-cost way to promote your business! Business-related programs are ideal.

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Top 10 ways to spread the word about your business

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is tripping over the word "Sikh" (seek) as he discusses the shootings in Wisconsin that killed six members of the religion Sikhism (SEEK-ism).

In Des Moines on Tuesday, Romney mispronounced the word "Sikh" (seek) as "sheik" (sheek), a word with an altogether different meaning. A sheik (sheek) is an Arab leader. Sikhs (seeks) trace their religion to South Asia.

A Romney spokesman says the Republican candidate simply misspoke while addressing supporters in Des Moines. The campaign notes that Romney pronounced the word correctly while making similar comments earlier in the day in the Chicago area.

Romney is calling the shootings at the Sikh temple in Wisconsin "tragic." He says the gunman appears to have been "motivated by hate" and that Sikhs are peaceful and loving.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Romney trips over the word 'Sikh'