National Memo: Campaigning Mitt Romney seldom notes Mexican Roots
http://www.nationalmemo.com/article/campaigning-mitt-romney-seldom-notes-mexican-roots
COLONIA JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) — White House hopeful Mitt Romney rarely mentions a key fact as he works to woo Hispanics ahead of Tuesday's Republican presidential nominating contest in Florida — his own Mexican heritage.
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"A lot of people ask why hasn't Mitt come back to see where his roots are. His father left here at such a young age and I don't think that he has that culture embedded like we do," said Leighton Romney, 52, who was born in the United States and is registered to vote in Arizona. "I live here because I love my country," he added. "That's Mexico."
He manages the fruit growers cooperative Grupo Paquime in nearby Nuevo Casas Grandes, and readily showed off his elaborately researched family tree to an Associated Press reporter who visited the office where he sells fruit to Walmart de Mexico and other large chains.
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The candidate has taken a hardline against illegal immigration. He favors a U.S.-Mexico border fence and opposes education benefits for illegal immigrants. He would support legislation that seeks to award legal status to some young illegal immigrants who serve in the armed forces, but not for those who attend college.
So Romney doesn't use his heritage card in Florida, where it could help him. Why not? Is he afraid of how it might hurt him elsewhere?
