Bloomberg Makes a Chancy Move on Latin Voters | Eastern NC Now

Publisher's note: This post appears here courtesy of the LifeZette, and written by David Kamioner.

    Mike Bloomberg, not exactly a poster boy for the ethnic vibrancy and emotional fire that typifies Latin culture, is making a run at Latin voters on Super Tuesday. As a Latin myself, I found this of some interest.

    His campaign, NBC reports, "is reaching out to Latino voters in a variety of ways, including direct mail, advertising and supporter mobilization program," said Bloomberg spokesperson Alejandra Soto. "Mike launched the campaign's Ganamos con Mike outreach initiative at the end of January, and the campaign has hosted multiple events in Super Tuesday states."

    On the stump Bloomberg has worked out a message he thinks will energize Latin voters. He emphasized the concept of security. "And by 'security,' I don't mean only physical security. I mean economic security. I mean housing security. I mean the security of knowing your kids will have a quality education, knowing you will be able to afford health care, and knowing you will be safe from climate change - which, make no mistake, is hitting Latinos hard as we've seen right here in Texas, not to mention places like Puerto Rico."

    He panders on.

    "And we will create a path to legalization and citizenship for the 11 million people living in the shadows. This will be one of the top priorities during my first month in office. And I've got to tell you, after too many years of inaction, I want to make it clear: We will get it done."

    First, as I've mentioned in this space before, the Latin vote is not monolithic. So while the votes of Americans of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage trend Democrat, the Cuban and South American vote trends GOP.

    So the liberal tone of Bloomberg's message may not play with all Latins, especially in Florida. But more than that, Latins are very intuitive voters. Image and demeanor mean a lot, just as it does for many others. Bloomberg's gravitas has been waning since he left the mayor's office and he does not arouse the kind of excitement that Latin voters traditionally respond to.

    Which means his outreach to those voters on Super Tuesday?

    As stale as last week's empanadas.