RED, WHITE & BLUE
Politicians work hard for Latino vote in Nevada
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Senator Harry Reid voted on Wednesday and urged Latinos to do the same. Video by ktnv.com
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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Just days away from the election and candidates are working to get every vote out there. Especially the Latino vote.
Cristina Passalacqua is going house to house ringing door bells of registered voters. The focus for the National Council of La Raza, a non partisan group, is getting Latinos out of the house and to the polls.
"They are understanding. Especially for the upcoming generation," says Passalacqua.
It's a group that has quickly become a very powerful one at the polls since latest census numbers show the Hispanic population in the U.S. is at 16%. In Nevada, it is more than 26%.
And Latinos in Southern Nevada are starting to realize how much power they now hold.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid chose Cardena's, a Latino themed grocery store, to stump for President Obama and Shelly Berkley before casting his vote.
"They know what Obama's done for them. They know what Republicans have stopped from happening. The creation of jobs, the passing of comprehensive immigration reform, the passing of the Dream Act. They stood in the way of that instead of trying to help," says Reid.
The Republicans, often not the first choice for many Hispanics, are also working to sway votes for their candidates with reminders of Latino politicians who have done well in the party.
"I think you have a demographic that actually understands. They tend to swing back and forth. They tend to be conservative when it comes to the issues; social policy, fiscal policy," says Republican congressman Raul Labrador of Idaho.
For some Latinos in Las Vegas who realize the power they now hold, they're already using it on a president they say has not fixed a broken economy and broken a promise to fix immigration.
The National Council of La Raza, plans on spending the remaining two days of early voting out in neighborhoods reminding people to get to the polls. While we may know next Tuesday who has won all these political races it may take a while longer until we know the role the Latino vote played this election season.
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