McCain courts Hispanic voters

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Monday launched a Spanish-language website, hoping to attract a demographic that is becoming increasingly important in national elections.

{mosads}The presumptive GOP presidential nominee also pledged to attend the annual convention for the National Council for La Raza in July, and released a statement recognizing the Cinco de Mayo holiday. He noted that the Battle of Puebla was “an important moment in the history of Mexico.”

McCain stressed that the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. is an “important friendship” and said Cinco de Mayo is a day to “celebrate the many contributions Mexican-Americans have made to our society, culture, security and economy.”

The Arizona senator has spent the past few years courting Hispanic voters by being the lead Republican sponsor of failed immigration legislation that would have granted a path to citizenship to most of the more than 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States.

McCain’s new website features press releases as well as videos featuring prominent Hispanic Republicans, such as Sen. Mel Martinez (Fla.) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.).

Hispanic voters are becoming increasingly important as the group continues to grow nationally and in important swing states, such as New Mexico and Colorado.