Obama and McCain Ignore Latino Media

LOS ANGELES -- The Barack Obama presidential campaigns indifference to the Latino press has been a problem since the beginning of the race. The people surrounding the candidate dont seem too aware or concerned about maintaining communication with the media that informs the Spanish-speaking community, even after repeated complaints from journalists (including this writer) about the lack of coordination and access to the candidate.

Usually, to do the job, reporters need a constant and accessible contact person in the campaign. In Obamas case, this has been virtually impossible: there is not -- nor has there ever been -- regular communication with the Hispanic press.

One wonders what might happen in the general election campaign and then in an eventual Democratic presidency, if indeed they win in November.

John McCain hasnt been any better. In fact, he has been worse. No one in the McCain campaign has made himself known as the contact for Latino media (at least not with this newspaper).

Likewise, all of the Republican candidates have practically ignored the Latino media. The only exception was Mitt Romney, who had a Latino press secretary who communicated directly with the press. This didnt end up helping him much, though, because his message didnt resonate with the community or with Floridas Cuban Americans, who voted for McCain.

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