Richardson backing could give major boost to Obama

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama could have a large effect on the Democratic presidential hopeful's campaign.

Richardson, a former Clinton administration Cabinet member and the nation's only current Hispanic governor, made the announcement during a rally in Portland, where Obama was campaigning.

The endorsement is being viewed by some Salem-area Hispanic organizations as a motivator for the Hispanic community.

"This will certainly help restore Latinos' trust in the democratic process and to get out and vote," said Francisco López, an organizer for Voz Hispana, a Woodburn-based nonprofit that promotes civic participation by Hispanics.

With López at the helm, the group in January launched a massive get-out-the-vote effort aimed at Hispanic voters. The group hopes to register 10,000 U.S.-born Hispanics, mostly between ages 18 and 34.

For Antonio Gonzalez, the president of the William C. Velázquez Institute, a San Antonio-based nonpartisan, nonprofit Latino public policy and research center, Richardson's endorsement is key in helping secure the Hispanic vote for Obama.

"Most of the Latino voters in our nation have already voted, so we're not talking about huge Latino votes in the few remaining primaries," Gonzalez said. "But what this does is enhance the comfort level that Latinos have with Obama, especially in the November presidential election."

Political analyst Bill Lunch agreed with Gonzalez but added that because of Richardson's popularity with national leaders, his endorsement of Obama could mean the remaining 300 or 350 superdelegates who have not yet endorsed a Democratic nominee will follow suit.

If Obama were to win the nomination, chances are he would tap Richardson as his vice presidential running mate, Lunch said.

"It's something that's very plausible," Lunch said. "It could clinch the Hispanic vote."

Nationally, Hispanics have tended to support Obama's rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.

Before he threw his hat in the presidential hopeful ring, Obama fell out of favor with many U.S. Hispanics after he began pandering to anti-immigrant sentiments during the 2006 congressional races, according to news reports.

His credibility took an even greater nose dive when he voted in favor of constructing a wall along parts of the U.S.-Mexico border, something many Hispanics were against.

Obama felt the sting of some of those decisions during primary elections in states with heavy Hispanic populations.

In California, Hispanics handed Obama a bruising loss when they threw their support behind Clinton, 69 percent to 29 percent.

In Texas, Hispanics voted 66 percent to 32 percent in favor of Clinton.

In Richardson's home state of New Mexico, Hispanics split their vote by a razor-thin 49 percent to 48 percent in favor of Clinton.

More recently, however, Obama has campaigned on a number of issues important to many in the Hispanic community, including speaking out against the Iraq war and supporting comprehensive immigration reform that would include a path to legalization.

He also has said he supports the issuance of driver's licenses to immigrants regardless of their immigration status, something Clinton has said she does not support.