Florida's other Latino voters

The World
The World
Obama's apparent willingness to engage in direct talks with countries such as Iran, Venezuela or Cuba has stirred up the Latino vote in Miami. Still Obama's message confused and terrified some residents in Miami. This man is president of a Venezuelan political action group in Miami. He says Obama's willingness to talk to Chavez reflects a na�ve understanding of life in Venezuela. He talks about what happens to people who oppose Chavez: they are put on a list which prevents them from getting a job or anything. Most Latinos in Miami are conservative, like that man. This man is president of a Nicaraguan social service organization. He worries about how talking with Chavez will affect talking with Ortega, the leftist leader of his home country, Nicaragua. He says this is not a partisan issue, and he loves Hillary Clinton, in part because Bill Clinton was a large part of passing an immigration law which aided Nicaraguans. He says the efforts of the Clinton administration go a long way in other Latino communities as well. This woman originally from Colombia says most Colombians are still undecided. This man says Colombians want someone who will protect their interests today, and protect trade interests�they want a candidate who embraces free trade with Colombia, and McCain is the one who is saying he understands the Colombian situation. With so many foreign policy issues, appealing to south Florida immigrants en masse is very difficult says this political scientist. He says most of Miami's Hispanics just don't care that much about foreign policy issues. In a recent poll, Miami's Hispanic voters said they're most concerned about the economy, the war in Iraq, and then education. Policy towards Latin America is a secondary issue.
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