He's young, Hispanic, and bullish on GOP

Vergel Cruz doesn't believe in identity politics
ST. PAUL, MINN. — The night's partying had stretched past midnight at the honky-tonk-themed party that AT&T threw for Texas delegates in Minneapolis.

So Houston tutor Vergel Cruz was not surprised to see at Wednesday's delegation breakfast that some of his less nimble fellow GOP delegates had not yet two-stepped out of bed.

Republicans want more young Hispanics like him to fill its banquet chairs — and to vote conservative in the presidential election and the following years. In Houston and elsewhere, that growing category of voters is expected to swing many political contests.

But several polls show that the places at the table remain vacant. Barack Obama leads among Hispanics by a 2 to 1 ratio or higher over Cruz's choice, John McCain. Immigration policy debates and economic doldrums have lowered Hispanic appetites for the GOP message, according to those who analyze the polls.


Offering change
Cruz, 29, who studied economics and linguistics at Rice University, is tripping through the convention with undeterred verve and briskly spoken observations, however.

When not taking photos, tapping his Palm digital handheld device and checking his handwritten spreadsheet of convention activities, Cruz looks at how his party can offer change Hispanics can believe in.

"To bring up the Hispanic vote, McCain-Palin just need to talk about what's important to everyone," he says while eyeing GOP souvenirs at a gift shop later in the day. "A strong economy, education — returning to local school districts."

Firmly conservative since his teens, when he was class president at St. Pius X High School, Cruz says Democrats pander with tailored messages to ethnic voter blocs while Republicans offer a consistent message.

"I always say, Texan first, American first," he adds while purchasing McCain-Palin T-shirts and buttons. "Skin color and ethnicity comes later. When you divide your message up, I think it's less effective."

Cruz checks a button that says "Hispanics for McCain."

"I may get one. But that would totally contradict what I just told you. But I don't think outreach (to undecided Latino voters) is inconsistent."

He leaves the button behind. READ MORE

By ALAN BERNSTEIN
Houston Chronicle