This diary is entirely inspired by a conversation my sister overheard this morning at one of the Obama campaign sites here in Albuquerque. She was there picking up tickets for Obama's town hall that will be held here Monday.
Don't get me wrong. I have the utmost respect for campaign volunteers and paid campaign workers. It is a hard, and sometimes, thankless job. I especially respect those that have left their families, friends and lives behind to travel to a new state to work.
My words are not meant to chastise but rather to inform. This is the most important election of our lives. Please listen.
My sister overheard a conversation this morning that rang all of the demographic alarms loudly. I wasn't there but this is how she relayed the conversation to me.
Out of state campaign worker 1: Where are all the Hispanics in New Mexico?
Out of state campaign worker 2: I think they are all in Gallup and Grants.
Big problem.
And then there is this comment from fellow New Mexican Claude.
Meanwhile, at the Obama HQ for San Miguel County in Las Vegas, they had no signs at all. Signs on the building were hand drawn. Volunteer there said she thought they were waiting for the VP pick before printing signs.
Troubling to see that all the volunteers, and the attendees of the training workshop they were running, were all gringos, in a vastly Hispanic majority demographic (71% Kerry in '04).
The 2 roadies from Obama national who were sent here, while Hispanic themselves, seem little prepared for the difference between SoCal Hispanic culture and northern New Mexico Hispanic culture.
Not many people really get it about New Mexico.
Amen Claude. They really don't get it about New Mexico.
We are like no other state in the Union. The Hispanic population in New Mexico is unlike any other Hispanic population anywhere on the planet. The only city (outside of New Mexico) I have ever been to that was remotely close to the demographic makeup of my hometown, Albuquerque, was Granada, Spain.
For a quick rundown on our very unique history, read this or this.
Before the Spanish marched into town, this land was home to numerous Native American tribes and Pueblos with histories even richer than those that the Europeans brought with them.
New Mexico is home to a large population of "Hispanics" that have been here since the mid 1500's. We are not like the Latinos/Hispanics/Chicanos in our neighboring states of Arizona or Texas. And we are everywhere in this state.
Overall stats for New Mexico from the 2006 Census Bureau put us at about 44% of the total New Mexico population. A breakdown by county:
Bernalillo (Albuquerque) 44.9%
Grant 48.1%
McKinley (Gallup) 13%
Santa Fe 49.5
San Miguel 76.8%
Dona Ana (Las Cruces) 65%
The largest concentration of Hispanics in New Mexico is in the Northern and Southern parts of the state. Bernalillo County, home to Albuquerque, has a concentrated number of Hispanics as we are the population center of the state.
Want to win New Mexico?
- Concentrate your money and time in the counties that have the greatest number of Hispanics.
- GOTV in these counties. Talk to these voters. Shake their hands. Hammer home Obama's economic policies because we are a poor state and high paying jobs are at a premium. We need to know someone is paying attention to our high unemployment rates.
- Figure out who the old time political muckety mucks are in these counties and enlist their help. Some of these families have been in these highly sought demographic areas since 1600.
- Don't ignore the Native American vote.
When I picked up my tickets to see Obama this morning I told the campaign worker I wanted to volunteer. She didn't have a sign up list. I will call and be persistent but others wont.
Understanding the cultural diversity of the state you are working in will make a difference in the number of votes you'll be able to count on come November.