Virginia Latinos seen as swing vote

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., July 13 (UPI) -- The Hispanic vote in Virginia could deliver the commonwealth for the Democratic presidential ticket for the first time since 1964, political analysts say.

In Virginia, Hispanics can collectively provide the swing votes necessary to deliver a win to either Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama or his Republican opponent, Arizona Sen. John McCain, The (Newport News, Va.) Daily Press reported Sunday.

"Virginia is being looked upon for the first time as a priority state," said Andrew Rivera, an Alexandria-based board member of the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia. "There are about 137,000 Hispanic-surname registered voters in Virginia right now ... about 2 percent to 3 percent of the total Virginia electorate. It's a vote that's going to be courted assiduously."

Mavel Velasco, president of the Hispanic Leadership Forum, a non-profit organization in Hampton Roads, Va., said politicians "for the first time ... are going to realize that what they say about the Hispanic community is very important."

Beatriz Amberman, founder of the Hispanic Community Dialogue Organization of Virginia, said she doubts Latinos will vote as a bloc.

"Right now, I can tell you that the Hispanic community will not be fully committed to one candidate or the other," Amberman said.