There is no Hispanic or Latino voting blocs. They are actually a dozen different national voting blocs. Cuban-Americans, Puerto Ricans, Mexican-Americans, Central American-Americans, Colombian-Americans, Venezuelan -Americans, etc. all have different political motivations.
On a general level, both candidates are trying to get the Hispanic vote. However, only Sen. McCain has started to develop finely tuned messages tailored to voters of specific national origins. For example, whereas the Democrats and Sen. Obama have opposed the FTA with Colombia and sought to isolate its leadership, Sen. McCain has been an ardent supporter of the FTA and of the Colombian government (which has completely turned the country around in the past 6 years). Similarly, Sen. McCain’s disdain for Venezuela’s Chavez and the Democrats’ friendliness with Chavez will drive most Venezuelan-Americans to vote for McCain. Central Americans (particularly Nicaraguan-Americans) that experienced the chaos and murders of Communist militias during the 60s – 80s are also more likely to support McCain and Republican candidates due to their stronger repudiation of communists such as Castro, Ortega, Chavez, and others, compared to Democrats relative friendliness with these leaders.
What is likely is that winning the Cuban, Colombian, Venezuelan, and Nicaraguan -American votes in Florida will help McCain win the state more easily that expected. Using strong supporters in these communities to reach out to the Mexican-American community will go a long way in helping Sen. McCain make significant electoral gains among Hispanics.
