Latinos cheer Clinton in N.J. visit

By PAUL BRUBAKER, HERALD NEWS | 01/24/08 02:11 AM 
NORTH BERGEN -- Propelled by hopes for national immigration reform, Passaic County Latinos joined hundreds who rallied Wednesday night for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, the Democratic presidential front-runner in New Jersey
And Clinton, more than an hour late and hoarse from an earlier Hackensack campaign stop, delivered her immigration platform with Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez at her side.
"I think we've got to bring people out of the shadows," Clinton said. "I believe that having people – 12 to 14 million of them here undocumented – is just a recipe for exploitation, for abuse, for demagoguery."Clinton advocated registration of undocumented persons, and having them pay fines and back income taxes for breaking immigration laws. Criminals should be deported, she said.

Clinton courts N.J.; collects key endorsements, campaign funds

In a rare courting of the Garden State by a presidential candidate during primary season, Clinton held rallies in Hackensack and North Bergen less than two weeks before New Jersey's contest.

The visit, political observers say, vindicates the state's decision to advance the presidential primary to February from June. The move made New Jersey, where the former first lady commands a lead over Democratic rival Barack Obama, a suddenly attractive mate to presidential suitors.

"I think it's both significant and historic," said Bergen County Democratic chairman Joseph Ferriero of Clinton's visit. "It's not often that you have a presidential candidate come to Bergen County before the primary."

"It goes to the fact that we're really relevant in the state now in the primary season," said Democratic state chairman, Sen. Joseph Cryan, D-Union.

Both Clinton and Obama courted Ferriero for his endorsement - and the organizational manpower that would come with the backing of the Democratic leader of the state's most populous county.

On Wednesday, Ferriero said he was firmly with Clinton. And he backed his commitment with money and a pledge to dispatch a deep bench of party loyalists.

Early in the evening, Ferriero hosted a private, $2,300-a-head fundraiser for Clinton at The Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack, the tony locker room of Bergen County's power base. Then he assembled a rally for her at the auditorium of The Bergen Academies in Hackensack, where just about all of the county's Democratic elected officials – all seven freeholders, the sheriff, state legislators, and an assortment of mayors and council members - promised to work on the Clinton's behalf.

Clinton, who arrived nearly 90 minutes to the rally, greeted hundred of supporters - but made sure to also thank the party Joes - Ferriero and Cryan.

"I was told if you say thanks to Joe in New Jersey, a lot of people will be thanked," she said.

She discussed policy, pledging universal health care, an overhaul of the student loan industry and promising to "responsibly" remove troops from Iraq within the first months of her administration.

"Within 60 days of my becoming president, we are leaving!" she said of Iraq.

The crowd of mainly women, seniors and high school students rose to their feet, waved signs and snapped photographs, and later asked for her autograph.

 "I touched her!" said an excited Marjorie Santoro, a math teacher at a Hackensack Middle School who wore a Clinton t-shirt for the occasion. "She has such soft, beautiful hands."

"I came here expecting to be a supporter of her, but she just touched my soul" said Linda Flynn, a Hackensack middle school teacher, who wore a Hillary t-shirt and squealed when Clinton, took notice during the rally. Flynn said she was particularly impressed with Clinton's education policy, saying that the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind policy places too much emphasis on standardized testing.

The visit comes as Clinton's New Jersey campaign is gearing up its get-out-the-vote operations for the Feb. 5 contest. Officials have recruited Sylvia Larsen, the New Hampshire Senate president, who helped lead the successful turnout operations that restored Clinton's campaign there following her loss in the Iowa caucuses.

Obama supporters said they were unruffled by Clinton's collection of endorsement in Jersey.

"The Clintons are the establishment candidates," said Newark mayor Cory Booker, who was stumping for Obama Wednesday in South Carolina. "They're going to get a lot of the typical party apparatus supporting them. … It's to be expected."

A new Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday shows Clinton with a 48 to 32 percent lead over Obama among likely voters. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards came in third with 10 percent and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich fourth with 1 percent.

The poll was conducted between Jan. 15 and Tuesday. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent.

Clinton also courted the Hispanic vote Wednesday, stopping at an evening rally in North Bergen to implore Latinos to turn out on Primary Day. Sen. Robert Menendez, a national co-chairman of Clinton's campaign, helped organize the rally, which was hosted by the Latino PAC Alliance, a newly-formed coalition of Latino organizations and Hispanic politicians from across the state.

Several candidates have started turning their attention towards the Latino vote - which comprises just 9 percent of the nationwide electorate - but has the potential to deliver a swing vote in a tight race.

Hispanics are the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the country, and now account for 10 percent of the eligible voting population in New Jersey.

In North Bergen, Clinton spoke in detail of her support for comprehensive immigration reform that would emphasize border security and employer sanctions for hiring the undocumented. But Clinton said she would stand firm against the forcible separation of mixed-status families and work to give the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. a path towards legalization.

Clinton is heavily favored among Hispanics as the Democratic nominee, according to a recent poll by the Pew Hispanic Center, which found that nationwide 59% support Clinton, followed by 15% for Obama.

"We see Hillary as a senator who has struggled for the interests of the Latino community," said Romi Herrera, a Peruvian activist from Paterson who helped organize Wednesday's rally.

"I'm 19 and this is my first election," said Kevin Tafur of Jersey City. "I read her book and I thought it was great. She cares a lot about the environment and global warming. She's like – a true American." E-mail: henrys@northjersey.com and carmiel@northjersey.com  

Several Hispanic groups from around the state have formed an umbrella organization called the Latino PAC Alliance to support Clinton’s candidacy, and they expect more than 1,000 people at the North Bergen rally.

“This presidential election is the most important election ever for the Latino community,” Norberto Curitomai, co-chairman of the alliance, said in Spanish. “After what has happened during the past few years to our communities, we need to elect someone who is pro-immigrant and who will address the worsening social and economic crisis in this country — someone with experience on these issues.”

The alliance’s committee members include U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Bergen County Freeholder Chairman Tomas Padilla, Mayors Joey Torres of Paterson and Jorge Meneses of Hackensack, among others.

The rally, which will be free and open to the public, will start at 6 p.m. at Schuetzen Park at 3167 Kennedy Blvd.

Clinton is also scheduled to meet Wednesday with Joseph Ferriero, chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, to accept the group’s endorsement.

Norberto Curitomai

Dear Friends:

Political empowerment is not a game of numbers, despite the fact that Latino Community is growing at a record pace. The new era of immigrants is not supported by political action, political choice or Latino leadership.

As many divergent groups before us, Latino community continues to struggle. The lack of bi-lingual emphasis in schools, after the attack of September the 11 the government renewed it policies and enforce deportation. This police destroys families and develops a strong anti-immigrant (or anti-illegal immigrant) sentiment.

We the American Latinos must continue to unite and support issues which will lend themselves to economic self-sufficiency, excellence in academics and political solutions for legislative empowerment. We must strive hard to be good Americans and incorporate our blended heritages into this country of freedom and we must vote as Latino-Americans voting for issues and officials that will support our unique challenges and benefit us in goals to share in the American dream.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the men and women to the military forces they are our true heroes, to all elected officials of all designations who enhance our lives
Sincerely

Norberto Curitomai