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Friday, September 19, 2008

Push for Hispanics

By Jeff Jones And Raam Wong
Journal Staff Writer
       ESPAÃ'OLA — Barack Obama recapped the nightmarish week in the U.S. economy, accused rival John McCain of being indecisive and out of touch and made a direct appeal to northern New Mexico's Hispanic voters during a sun-drenched rally here Thursday afternoon that drew thousands of backers.
    "We are in the midst of the most serious financial crisis in a generation — perhaps the worst since the Great Depression," Obama said on the packed Plaza de Española, where a sea of fans sporting sunglasses, sunburns and red-white-and-blue "Change" posters waited for hours to hear the Democratic presidential candidate speak.
    "We can't change direction with a new driver who wants to follow the same map," Obama said as he continued to paint McCain as an ally of the economic policies of the unpopular Bush administration.
    "What we have seen in the last few days is nothing less than the final verdict on an economic philosophy that has completely failed."
    Obama appealed to Hispanic voters, who likely played a big role in his decision to head to Rio Arriba County, as he ended his roughly 35-minute speech.
    "Knock on doors. Make some phone calls. Talk to your neighbors. To the Hispanic community: I want you to start actually voting your numbers. Start flexing your muscles. Right here in New Mexico, you'll be the difference maker," Obama said. "If you will roll up your sleeves with me ... I promise you this: We will not just win New Mexico. We will win this general election."
    Obama, during his fifth stop in New Mexico this year, was noticeably more critical of McCain than he had been during past stops.
    Looking out over the crowd and the distant Sangre de Cristo Mountains, he again blasted McCain for saying on Monday that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong" as stocks plunged, billions of dollars was vaporized on Wall Street and Lehman Bros. filed the largest bankruptcy in the nation's history.
    "This comment was so out of touch, that even George Bush's White House couldn't agree with it when they were asked about it," Obama said.
    According to The Associated Press, President Bush also has used the same language as McCain many times, but his press secretary would not repeat the line on Wednesday.
    Obama said he would meet today with his economic advisers before calling for legislation to inject capital and liquidity into the financial system and toss a lifeline to homeowners badly in need of restructured mortgages.
    "I know these are difficult days, New Mexico," Obama said. But, "here in America, our destiny is not written for us. It's written by us."
    The McCain campaign shot back later in the day, accusing Obama of being in the pocket of now-troubled mortgage giants that provided him with campaign cash.
    "When Barack Obama came to Washington, he chose to strengthen his ties to spiraling lenders like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and their jet-set CEOs, not make change," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. "The American people cannot afford leadership that puts a higher premium on campaign contributions than protecting hard-working Americans."
    And state Republican Party chairman Allen Weh said: "Obama's never had to cover a payroll, never had to make any executive decisions, and wants New Mexicans to believe he's the guy to solve our economic problems. He doesn't have near the experience to handle the job he's asking Americans to give him, and more and more people now understand that."
    While Thursday's event drew plenty of Norteños, it also attracted plenty of backers from other parts of the state. The campaign said the crowd was estimated by fire officials at 9,500 — close to the total population of Española, though some observers pegged it as somewhat smaller.
    The morning traffic on Interstate 25 and U.S. 84/285 was chock full of cars sporting Obama stickers. The line outside the plaza began forming early, and by 10:30 a.m., the announced time for the gates to open, Obama backers — among them college students playing hooky, local elementary school students on field trips and Democrats from across the North — were in a long line that snaked out of sight.
    Gov. Bill Richardson, Obama's highest-profile New Mexico backer, warmed up the crowd, joking that he had told Obama, "We can guarantee, in Rio Arriba, 102 percent of the vote."
    For many in the crowd, the visit was a rare opportunity to see a presidential contender in their hometown. Sen. Hillary Clinton stumped for the campaign last month, and Obama's visit was viewed as a chance to woo voters who overwhelmingly broke her way in Rio Arriba County during the February caucus.
    "I feel really good about finally doing something — my little bit for change," said Bernalillo resident Mary Ulinski, who has been knocking on doors, working the phone, and, on Thursday, was standing in line for Obama.
    "I think for a lot of us the choice of a first woman (president) or first African American was a very exciting choice and a very difficult choice," said Santa Fe mayor and Obama convert David Coss.
    Obama met with Native American leaders in Albuquerque Thursday morning before his motorcade rolled north to Española, stopping at The Range Cafe in Bernalillo to shake hands and order enchiladas to go.
    After the event, he took part in a private fundraiser in Albuquerque, where organizers hoped to rake in $1.5 million.