{"id":3603,"date":"2008-08-20T17:17:00","date_gmt":"2008-08-20T23:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/08\/mccain-woos-hispanics-dems-and-independents\/"},"modified":"2008-08-20T17:17:00","modified_gmt":"2008-08-20T23:17:00","slug":"mccain-woos-hispanics-dems-and-independents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/08\/mccain-woos-hispanics-dems-and-independents\/","title":{"rendered":"McCain woos Hispanics, Dems and independents"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Listen to McCain\u2019s 25-minute interview with me and three other reporters, conducted on his campaign bus after today\u2019s town-hall meeting, by clicking <\/span>here<\/a>.<\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

John McCain\u2019s<\/a> town-hall meeting held today in Las Cruces<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> was obviously aimed at attracting Hispanic, Democratic and independent voters.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The Republican presidential candidate, who characterized himself as the underdog in the race, spoke about Hispanics during the event held earlier today, and he also asserted his independence from his party and special interests.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t work for a party. I don\u2019t work for a president. I don\u2019t work for a special interest. I don\u2019t work for myself,\u201d McCain said in talking about his commitment to serving the American people. \u201c\u2026 I spoke up against the administration for their mistakes in Iraq<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

McCain also sought to reassure Republicans by pledging to pick a vice-presidential running mate who shares his values.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\n

McCain\u2019s focus on Hispanics and his playing up of his reputation for independence appeared perfectly tailored for the demographics in Do\u00f1a<\/st1:placename> Ana<\/st1:placename> County<\/st1:placename><\/st1:place>, the state\u2019s second largest: Some 65 percent of residents are Hispanic, while 50 percent of registered voters are Democrats, 29 percent are Republicans and 18 percent are independents. It\u2019s a county that easily went to Hillary Clinton<\/a> over McCain\u2019s Democratic rival, Barack Obama<\/a>, in the Feb. 5 caucus, and one where many Democrats regularly vote for Republican congressional candidates.<\/p>\n

\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

One Democrat who McCain has already won over is Nancy Hudson of Las Cruces<\/st1:city>, who chairs McCain\u2019s women\u2019s group in Do\u00f1a<\/st1:placename> Ana<\/st1:placename> County<\/st1:placename><\/st1:place>. The campaign volunteer, who attended today\u2019s event, said in an interview that she is crossing party lines to support McCain because he \u201chas shown that he\u2019ll do what he says he will and he\u2019ll get things done.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

McCain was introduced at today\u2019s event by Do\u00f1a<\/st1:placename> Ana<\/st1:placename> County<\/st1:placename><\/st1:place>\u2019s most popular Republican elected official, District Attorney Susana Martinez<\/a>. The district attorney, who is unopposed this year after beating her Democratic opponent by 20 points in 2004, said in an interview before the forum that McCain can win the county despite the Democrats\u2019 huge advantage in voter registration.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cThe county votes on the issues and the candidates, and has gotten away significantly from straight-ticket voting,\u201d she said in the interview.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

In introducing McCain, Martinez<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> cited herself and the Republican sheriff and treasurer as \u201cproof that Republicans can win in this county.\u201d She said that\u2019s why McCain was in Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWe matter even if we are small-town America<\/st1:country-region>, and Sen. McCain knows that,\u201d Martinez<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> told a cheering crowd of several hundred people.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Before McCain took the stage, those in attendance watched his TV commercial \u201cGod\u2019s children,\u201d<\/a> aimed at showing his respect for Hispanics in the military. McCain used the words \u201cGod\u2019s children\u201d to describe Hispanics again today when discussing problems on the border and immigration reform. He said most immigrants are coming to America<\/st1:country-region> seeking work, and, as a Judeo-Christian nation, when America<\/st1:country-region> learns about a teen girl who died in the desert trying to cross into the United States<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, \u201cwe have an obligation.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

He also made a point of mentioning Henry Cejudo, the son of undocumented immigrants who, on Tuesday, gave the United States<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> its first Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling in 16 years. Cejudo once lived in Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Other topics<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

McCain spoke about other familiar themes at the event, including the economy and the Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> war. He also responded to Obama\u2019s Tuesday claim that McCain was questioning his patriotism<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cLet me be very clear: I am not questioning his patriotism. I am questioning his judgment. Senator Obama has made it clear he values withdrawal from Iraq<\/st1:country-region> above victory in Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>,\u201d McCain said. \u201cHe has made these decisions not because he doesn\u2019t love America<\/st1:country-region> but because he doesn\u2019t think it matters whether America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> wins or loses.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

McCain had sharp words for Russia<\/st1:country-region> in light of the recent conflict in Georgia<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cThis kind of provocation is not acceptable in the 21st Century,\u201d McCain said, adding that he hoped Russia<\/st1:country-region> would withdraw from Georgia<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place>, but, \u201cI would remind you that wars have been started in other obscure places in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

In an interview on his campaign bus following the event, McCain said he doesn\u2019t believe Russia<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> intends to start a larger war.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not concerned about a re-ignition of the Cold War,\u201d McCain said. \u201c\u2026 but I do see the Russians flexing their muscles.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

One of the hottest questions right now is who McCain and Obama will pick as their running mates. McCain fielded two questions on the subject during the town hall. The first was about whether he will pick a pro-life candidate. McCain in recent days has floated the idea of a pro-choice running mate.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going through the process,\u201d was all McCain directly said in response, though he added that he is strongly pro-life.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

A second question came from Greg Sowards of Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>, a former congressional candidate who asked whether McCain will pick a running mate who \u201cconservatives can rally around\u201d or \u201csomeone who will inspire us to stay home.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI will nominate a person to be vice president — my running mate — who shares my principles and my values and my priorities,\u201d McCain said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

A swing state<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

McCain was quick to talk about the importance of New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state> during his visit. At the town hall, he said he believes New Mexico will be one of the states pundits will be talking about late on election night because the state\u2019s vote tally will be too close to call.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI believe this is going to be a close election. I believe I\u2019m the underdog,\u201d McCain said. \u201cI believe New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state> is going to be one of those states.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

He also talked about Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> during the interview on his bus. McCain has traveled to the area in the past to campaign for other candidates.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> area is fast-growing, a very attractive area. It\u2019s part of the state where I think I need to do well,\u201d McCain said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Domenici and Wilson<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

McCain had kind words for U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici<\/a>, who is retiring this year after 36 years of service. McCain\u2019s town hall was at New Mexico<\/st1:placename> State<\/st1:placetype> University<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place> on the same day the Domenici Public Policy Conference<\/a> began there.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cHe is an institution in the Senate,\u201d McCain said during the interview on his bus. \u201cNobody knows budget and other issues better than Pete. He\u2019s one of the most lovable members of the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

McCain also praised U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson<\/a>, who lost the primary in the race to replace Domenici in June and leaves office at the end of the year. Since losing the primary, Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> has devoted a great deal of time to promoting McCain.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

McCain said, were Wilson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> interested, \u201cshe would get every consideration\u201d for a job in his administration if he wins the race. He said she has \u201ca very compelling r\u00e9sum\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

However, McCain said in the interview that Wilson<\/st1:city> \u201cloves it in New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI know that Heather would prefer to stay in New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>, and she loves it here,\u201d McCain said.<\/p>\n

\n

Update, 11 p.m.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\n

\n

Here\u2019s another photo I took today that I thought was worth sharing. It\u2019s of Martinez<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> shaking McCain\u2019s hand after introducing him.<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\"\"<\/a>A prior version of this posting incorrectly stated that Domenici had served 26 years in the Senate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Listen to McCain\u2019s 25-minute interview with me and three other reporters, conducted on his campaign bus after today\u2019s town-hall meeting, by clicking here. John McCain\u2019s town-hall meeting held today in Las Cruces was obviously aimed at attracting Hispanic, Democratic and independent voters. The Republican presidential candidate, who characterized himself as the underdog in the race, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3603"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3603\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}