GOP Poised To Make Big Hispanic Push Before Florida's Primary
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - As the GOP primary express prepares to move into Hispanic-rich Florida, the GOP is taking steps to fire up Hispanic interest in the Florida primary, on Wednesday appointing Bettina Inclan to lead the push.
The announcement was made by Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who selected Inclan based on her previous party role as head of the party's National Hispanic Assembly.
Hispanics make up about a quarter of Florida's population, but they are an even greater presence in the state's two largest Media markets, Miami and Tampa. Inclan says the party will focus on traditional voter identification efforts, but will also make a heavy push into social media, launching a bilingual twitter and blog site targeting Hispanics.
While Hispanics have generally tilted toward the GOP in Florida, many left the party in 2008 to vote for Barack Obama. In the runup to the 2012 Florida primary, frontrunner Mitt Romney has faced criticism from some Hispanics over his promise to veto the so-called Dream Act.
Wednesday, Romney unveiled his first Spanish-language TV ad in Florida after winning the New Hampshire primary, and Thursday he is set to make his first major primary push in the state with a Noon rally at the Palm Beach Convention Center.
