Does Teddy Kennedy help Obama with Latinos?

[bidenista]

Mark Halperin has a post up on his blog at Time Magazine arguing that there are six reasons why Teddy's endorsement helps Obama. Number one:

1. He has a huge following with Hispanics, a big deal in California and other Super Tuesday states, and one of Obama’s weaknesses.

More: http://thepage.time.com/halperins-take-five-reasons-why-the-kennedy-endorsement-is-a-big-deal

Maybe I'm just being an ignoramus (shaddup), but does TK really have a huge following with Hispanics? This is honestly the first time I've heard that.

--

And here's a kitten, just to make you go "awwww" and keep things nice:

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[thunder rising]

1. Love the kitten. But how about we just wait and see.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. He's Pro Immigration And A Friend To The Latino Community

I just don't see the efficacy of endorsements but they are better to have than not to have...

[existentialist]

3. It is important to try to keep things nice around here.

Good work.

[Honeycombe8]

4. Dunno. We'll have to wait and see. I didn't know Ted Kennedy had a big Latino following, so.... nt

[Sensitivity]

5. Clintons locked up the latino leadership early. They are the ones signaling for

a pro clinton vote from the entire South-West Voter block.

[dailykoff]

11. Hillary voted for that damn border wall FOUR times.

I counted up her votes at Project Vote Smart. Here's the link:

http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=55463

[calico1]

6. I am Hispanic...

My Dad loved JFK and RFK but hates Teddy. My mom didn't hate Teddy but she didn't think as highly of him as she did his brothers. I was in college in Puerto Rico when he was running for President and campaigning there. I can remember a lot of people rolling their eyes at an ad that was out that had footage of both other Kennedys and saying "now there is another Kennedy running!" And people were like "WTF? He's not JFK." This is my perspective of course. I can tell you that in my lifetime (almost 50) I know most Hispanics I know adored JFK and RFK. Teddy not so much.

ETA: Being Puerto Rican, the issues of illegal immigration don't have an affect on us.

[dailykoff]

7. I think there's a California connection that might help on supah Tuesday

RFK apparently worked closely with Cesar Chavez. I've heard an interview with Chavez where he talks about it. Kennedy also helped defeat the Sensenbrenner measure that turned all those millions of Latinos out in demonstrations in April 06 I believe.

[Maribelle]

14. Cesar Chavez's union has endorsed Hillary.

http://www.ufw.org/_board.php?mode=view&b_code=news_press&b_no=3485&page=1&field=&key=&n=507

[dailykoff]

21. Yes I know, so has Villaraigosa, but that was before SC.

Things change fast in an election cycle. Today Xavier Bacerra, tomorrow who knows.

[Carrieyazel]

8. Obama fares poorly among Hispanics. That can't be good for a general election.

[dailykoff]

13. He won the Culinary Workers' endorsement and they're 45% hispanic.

In NV.

[Maribelle]

15. The union bosses endorsed Obama. The rank and file voted for Hillary.

[dailykoff]

22. So we're told.

[Adelante]

9. It's the immigration reform bill - HUGE creds nt

[dailykoff]

24. Yep. Hilly voted "yes" on an " English as the Common Language" bill.

Don't see where she wins points in CA.

[judaspriestess]

10. I don't believe it will do much

to help Obama with the Hispanic community. I don't think it hurts him either.

[AlCzervik]

12. i have no idea, i really wonder if endorsements really help anyone.

[Auntie Bush]

16. Awwwwww

I'd say most all Dems used to have a hugh following of Hispanics. I have no idea where they will head now. I hope Hillary but who knows.

[DiamondJay]

17. maybe Ted will drive Obama's campaign off a bridge

[calico1]

18. I'm a Hillary supporter but that wasn't nice. n/t

[Nimrod2005]

19. Yes he does

[McCamy Taylor]

20. Latinos are more politically savy than the average American. They will

examine the candidates and see which one is best for their economic interests. The beauty contest aspect of this race is not going to sway them near as much as it will some other groups. In that respect, Hillary's "just the facts" campaign style is a winner. The last thing you should do to Latinos is make promises about hope and change and other stuff that sounds like bs. I suspect that they are going to pay attention to experience versus inexperience too. Obama better talk facts. Make promises he can deliver.

[AX10]

23. You are correct!

[Tatiana]

25. I think it's sort of hard to lump all Latinos together. He will improve with some groups.

I think the interests of the Cuban-Americans are different from the interestes of the Mexican-Americans which are still different from the interests of Puerto-Rican Americans on policy like immigration.

Cubans touch American soil and get to stay. Mexicans come here and they are "illegals." Puerto Ricans are citizens and therefore immigration isn't as personally significant to them as other latino groups.

[jillan]

26. Forget the kitten -

It's the other picture that made me go 'awwwwwww'
Even tho he looks tired, he still looks dam good to me.

[okasha]

27. Utterly adorable kitten.

Mexican-Americans (and Mexicans) revere John and Robert. For some reason, Teddy has never quite caught on the way his brothers did, maybe because he's not had the kind of truly national stage they did as President and Attorney General. Nor, thank Goddess, is he a fallen hero/martyr, something that may exponentially raise your standing with the public but otherwise sucks like a Hoover.

[NoBorders]

28. Seems like he would have to go campaign in SoCal and get on TV

and the Radio to have any influence on a large swath of voters. There and other places with large latino populations.