McCain ad addresses Hispanics

In a sign that the Hispanic vote in the West could hold the key to the November election, Republican presumptive nominee John McCain launched his first local campaign ad, a Spanish-language radio spot, in Nevada this week.

The 60-second commercial touts McCain, a senator from Arizona, as a nonpartisan problem-solver on the economy.

"When we are buying groceries, we don't have a political party," the ad states, according to a translation provided by the campaign. "When we are filling up the gas tank, we are not Republicans, Democrats or independents. We are Hispanics, and we are all hurting together in this uncertain economic time."

The ad began airing Tuesday on Spanish-language radio stations throughout Nevada. It is airing also in New Mexico. The campaign would not give details Wednesday on how long the spot will continue to air.

Nevada and New Mexico are seen as key battlegrounds for the presidency, and both have large populations of Hispanic voters.

McCain was once a champion of comprehensive immigration reform, including allowing illegal immigrants eventually to gain citizenship, but has backtracked on the issue under fire from the right.

McCain's expected rival, Sen. Barack Obama, also could face problems attracting Hispanic voters, who voted overwhelmingly for Sen. Hillary Clinton in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination.

McCain and Obama both campaigned in New Mexico and Nevada last week as they began laying the groundwork for the general election.

The new Spanish ad "goes to two points," McCain campaign spokesman Jeff Sadosky said. "One, we feel John McCain is the type of Republican who can do very well among Hispanic voters. Two, the message of the ad ties in with a theme you will see throughout John McCain's presidential campaign: He is a candidate who throughout his career has not just given lip service to the idea of bipartisanship but has brought results."

Sadosky said a Web ad released by the campaign for Veterans Day highlighted the "disproportionate" role of Hispanics in military service.

"By talking about economic issues, talking about the issues of service and patriotism, he's (McCain is) going to continue reaching out to Hispanics on a number of issues," he said.

Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.