Wall Street Journal
By Beth Reinhard
April 21, 2014
Republicans
are beating their Democratic opponents to the Spanish-language airwaves
in 2014, seeking to make early and positive impressions on the growing
Hispanic community.
Florida
Gov. Rick Scott on Monday became the fourth Republican gubernatorial
candidate to announce a Spanish-language commercial, joining New Mexico
Gov. Susana Martinez
and Republican nominees Bruce Rauner in Illinois and Greg Abbott in
Texas. None of their opponents have begun advertising on television yet.
The
ads from Mr. Scott and Ms. Martinez are biographical and share American
Dream-like themes of support for entrepreneurship and small business.
Mr. Abbott began advertising
in Spanish even before he won the primary in early March with a spot
featuring wife Cecelia Abbott, a granddaughter of Mexican immigrants.
Mr. Rauner’s Spanish-language ad last month said he would create jobs
and improve schools and attacked Democratic Gov.
Pat Quinn’s leadership.
“You
can expect to see many of our governors build their coalitions for
re-election with multi-language ads and outreach,” said Jon Thompson, a
spokesman for the Republican
Governors Association.
Mr.
Scott’s $500,000 ad campaign signals an aggressive push for Hispanic
voters. In his 2010 campaign, he didn’t begin advertising in Spanish
until October, and he spent
about $1 million total. In an unusual feat by a statewide Republican
candidate, he narrowly carried the Hispanic vote, according to exit
polls.
Mr.
Scott, who isn’t fluent in Spanish, speaks the opening line of the spot
in Spanish before a narrator takes over. The ad doesn’t mention his
support for a bill that
would allow the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state college
tuition rates. Mr. Scott’s position on the bill, which also limits
overall tuition hikes, represents a sharp reversal from his position in
the 2010 GOP primary advocating a sweeping crackdown
on illegal immigrants.
As
the 2014 campaign progresses, Democrats are expected to try to maximize
their traditional advantage with Hispanic voters by promoting
comprehensive immigration reform.
There
are roughly 20 House districts held by Republicans or up for grabs
where Democrats think immigration could play a role in the 2014
campaign. A Democratic super PAC,
House Majority PAC, ran Spanish-language ads last year targeting
California Rep. Gary Miller, Colorado Rep. Mike Coffman and Nevada Rep.
Joe Heck.
“Republican
Congress’s failure on this bipartisan priority will come back to haunt
them this fall,” said Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic
Congressional Campaign
Committee, said in a written statement.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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