Dems seek wedge between Heller, Latinos

A Democratic Party group moved Wednesday to widen a wedge between Hispanics and Republican Sen. Dean Heller following a flap in Las Vegas last week.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee began running a minute-long ad on Spanish language radio stations in Reno and in Southern Nevada seeking to fire up Latino voters that Heller wants to court.  The group declined to say how much it was spending on the campaign.

The radio spot accuses Heller of "a lack of respect for the Hispanic community" after he canceled a meeting with the Latin Chamber of Commerce.  The episode was reported here.

The ad further notes Heller's opposition to the  DREAM Act and says he "wants to follow in Arizona's steps."

Heller on Wednesday described last week's fallout as "a bump in the road" and he still wants to meet with the Latin Chamber.

"I reached out and I will continue to reach out," he said.  "If this is a bump in the road, so be it. I would love to sit down with their executive committee under the same agreement we had last time, sit down and go over issues important to them. My invitation is still available."

The "bump" comes as Heller, an appointed senator seeking election to a full term in 2012, has begun outreach to Hispanics, a key constituency that makes up roughly 15 percent of the state electorate.

A poll released last week by Public Policy Polling, a Democratic firm, showed Heller's Democratic opponent, Rep. Shelley Berkley, with a 74 percent-16 percent advantage among Hispanics.