Obama, Lacking Personal Connection, Draws Hispanics on Issues

Aug. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama may lack a strong personal connection with Hispanics, but he gets good marks on issues those voters say matter most: health care, the Iraq war, education and jobs.

``I see a sunrise and a sunset,'' said Republican Dwayne Chavez, a 43-year-old blood-bank technician from Aurora, Colorado, describing the differences between Illinois Senator Obama and his Republican rival, Senator John McCain of Arizona. ``One with a future ahead of them, and the other in the twilight.''

While more than 60 percent of Hispanics say they support Obama, expanding that margin may be a decisive factor in the November election, when Latinos are likely to play a crucial role nationally and in battleground states such as Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Florida.

Yet when Latino voters in a focus group in Denver yesterday were asked about Obama's persona -- what it would be like to share potluck dinner, car pool or have him as a neighbor -- there was a disconnect, with many pointing only to his intelligence and basketball skills.

`One-Dimensional'

``We're seeing too much of a one-dimensional Obama,'' said Democratic pollster Peter Hart, who conducted the focus group for the Philadelphia-based Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. ``We are not seeing the human side.''

Hispanics ``just don't feel he's reached out and touched people,'' Hart said. READ MORE

By Catherine Dodge
Bloomberg.com