SACRAMENTO, CA – California State Treasurer and Democratic nominee for Governor Phil Angelides is ramping up outreach and making great strides with Latino voters, while Governor Schwarzenegger continues to struggle with this critical community nearly two weeks before the November 7th election.
Today Angelides appeared on one of the country's highest rated Spanish-language radio shows, Cucuy de la Mañana, and spoke at an Orange County rally to condemn the latest attempt by Republicans to suppress the Latino vote.
Yesterday, La Opinión, the leading Spanish-language daily newspaper in the U.S. endorsed Angelides for Governor, saying,
"... some of Schwarzenegger's actions, such as his endorsement of the Minutemen, helped to foster resentment against undocumented immigrants, feeding negative passions. We think that the head of the Executive branch must unite, instead of dividing Californians....
There are no surprises with Angelides; his proposals are progressive and more equitable for all Californians. Vote for Phil Angelides for Governor!" (La Opinion, October 22, 3006)
A recent poll conducted by Bendixen & Associates on behalf of PowerPAC and the NDN Political Fund found Schwarzenegger with higher disapproval ratings than President Bush among Latinos. The poll showed Angelides leading Schwarzenegger 64 percent to 21 percent among Latinos.
"There is overwhelming support for Phil Angelides in the Latino community because Phil has listened to us and been unwavering in his support," said Angelides co-chair, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. "On issues like health care, helping small businesses, and raising the minimum wage, we know we will always be able to count on Phil Angelides."
The Angelides campaign is in the midst of a massive Latino to Latino voter outreach effort, involving tens of thousands of emails and phone calls from leaders including Senator Gil Cedillo and Dolores Huerta.
"The Schwarzenegger campaign has said that it is only targeting 35 percent of the Latino vote," said Angelides campaign spokesperson Angelica Urquijo. "That's disrespectful. Phil Angelides is seeking the votes of every Californian, and that's why he's popular in California's growing Latino community."
Governor Schwarzenegger is generally distrusted by Latinos for supporting Proposition 187, praising the Minutemen, opposing drivers' licenses for undocumented immigrants and calling for the borders to be closed – then flip-flopping on every one of these issues, including recently saying that he would support "under specific conditions, driver's licenses for illegal immigrants." (Los Angeles Times, October 21, 2006)
