Clinton brings Obama to Hispanic supporters

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton introduced former rival Sen. Barack Obama to her Hispanic supporters and fundraisers Thursday night, and he got an earful from a group that remains skeptical nearly a month after their Democratic primary battle ended.

“We were offering constructive criticism that will help him in the fall,” said Ingrid Duran, a Falls Church consultant who advised Clinton on Hispanic issues. “At the end of the day, we’ll support the nominee. The question is how actively.”

{mosads}About 25 members of Clinton’s Hispanic Leadership Council and Hispanic Finance Council met with Obama at the Mayflower Hotel at the invitation of Clinton. Among those attending were Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.), chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.); and United Farmworkers of America co-founder Delores Huerta.

Hispanic votes have been key in recent presidential contests. George W. Bush won 35 percent of their votes in 2000, and 40 percent in 2004.

Some who attended the Thursday meeting said they had the impression from the Obama campaign that he doesn’t think he needs Hispanic votes because he’s assuming he’ll win heavily Hispanic states like California and New York. Obama told them that wasn’t true.

“He told the group he needed the Latino community to win,” said Duran, who served on the Clinton campaign’s Hispanic councils.

Those in attendance want to see more outreach to Hispanics, such as a campaign organization dedicated to Hispanic supporters. They also want to see an understanding that Hispanic issues extend beyond immigration, Duran said.

Duran said the meeting was positive, but she’s waiting to see if the campaign delivers on Obama’s promises.

“Time will tell,” she said. “I want to see what the follow through is going to be.”

The meeting came a day before Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Obama (D-Ill.) campaigned together in Unity, N.H. It came several hours after Obama met with a group of female legislators at Democratic National Headquarters.

Earlier in the day Thursday, Clinton had used her first major public speech since conceding the nomination to stump for Obama before the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).

Female Hispanic lawmakers who’d supported Clinton skipped a meeting earlier this month between Obama and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Shortly before the meeting Thursday, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) made it clear that she’s not satisfied with Obama’s outreach to members of Congress or the 18 million people who voted for Clinton.

“My door is open,” Sanchez said in a brief interview. “If you don’t make time to meet with the 535 people who’s support you need, how are you going to win over 18 million people.”