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An ad targeting Latino voters in Nevada made national attention last week for its surprising message. The ad urged Latinos to punish Democrats on election day by staying away from the polls. The nationwide Spanish language network Univision quickly pulled the ad, and it was immediately denounced by community groups and Democratic party candidates who have been working to register and mobilize Latinos. The “Don’t Vote” message was sponsored by a group called Latinos for Reform, which is led by Robert de Posada, a conservative pundit and Republican. Earlier this month a Pew Hispanic Center survey found that two-thirds of registered Latino voters plan to vote for Democrats. However, in a finding consistent with the national mood the survey found that Latino Republicans are more likely to vote. Sixty-three percent of registered Latino voters approved of President Obama’s job performance, but only 26% said his policies have been helpful to Latinos. Of those surveyed the top three issues of concern among Latinos are education, jobs, and health care. Immigration ranked fourth among all Latinos and fifth among Latinos registered to vote. In a year in which Latino immigrants have been alternately courted and demonized by candidates and targeted by extreme immigration laws their voter activity is being closely watched.

GUEST: Antonio Gonzalez, President of the William C Velasquez Institute, one of the founders of the National Latino Congreso, host of KPFK’s Strategy Session which airs Mondays at 4 pm.

Find out more at www.wcvi.org.