Democrats forming caucuses to recruit Hispanics as voters
Tal Abbady
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Sep 12, 2006
Democrats are forming Hispanic caucuses in South Florida to bridge the quiet, clannish divisions among immigrant groups and coax more Latinos to the polls in November.
The last decade's surge in eligible voters with ties to countries as disparate as Venezuela and Peru has challenged the Cuban Republican vote, experts say. But Democrats trying to seize on the numbers and find a common Latino voice are often stumped.
LocalLinks Language barriers, cultural rifts, a lack of trust in the political system and an unwillingness to unite under a single label keep many immigrants eligible to vote away from the polls, activists say.
"We'll meet up to watch fútbol or have a drink. But when it comes to bringing people together for a political vision or to exercise our vote, we don't do that. We don't unify ourselves like the Haitians do," said Peter Camacho.
