By
editor on
May 15th, 2008
Boston, Ma.,_ Seeing 1988 Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis on CNN was a great reminder of the days when the Latino vote almost mattered. It was part of the legacy that built the path to 2008. Immigration has pushed Latinos forward faster but it was campaigns like JFK and Bobby Kennedy (Viva Kennedy Clubs), LBJ, McGovern, Carter, Mondale and of course Clinton 92. Of all these candidates and those before them Michael Dukakis was the first fluent Spanish speaker to seek the presidency. Early on in his campaign he hit it off with Latino leaders across the country, especially when he would give an entire speech in Spanish. His was also the first campaign to conduct a major press conference in Spanish followed by English for those who were culturally deprived. Dukakis had a mini version of Obama’s field operation in his western states during that effort and won 72% of the Latino vote. It was like yesterday hearing his words, “Mano en mano, juntos vamas ganar.” Viva Dukakis for his contribution to the Latino experience!
Categories: Bill Clinton, Boston, Massachusetts, Michael Dukakis, Politics, elections
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