The right angle view

This must be another sign from the transformational times we are living in.

This story ran on the front page of the prestigious Wall Street Journal, the top story "above the fold," as we describe that precious space given to the most significant news item of the day.

Latinos considered the "most significant news item" by the high-brow editors of the influential newspaper from New York's financial district read worldwide?

The prestigious publication that only deals with people and issues located at the very top of the world of finances? 

Where Latinos, as a consequence, are rarely in evidence, save exceptions like Carlos Slim, the Mexican billionaire who was recently on the cover of Forbes Magazine.

The story was about the obvious, already discussed on these pages several weeks ago: The Republican Party is out to take full advantage of the ample room the Obama administration has left in Hispanic voter loyalty. A voter loyalty taken for granted by Democrats, and disregarded by the Republicans.

Not anymore, based on the WSJ's front page story.

According to it, as we wrote about in AL DIA several weeks ago, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has been hand-picked by the top national Republican leadership to be the point person to lead the party in its effort to entice the very Latino voters that President Obama has — so far — neglected. He had them behind him four years ago: a solid 67 percent of the Latino total voted for him. That was well above George W. Bush's 40 percent (record-setting for republicans). Four years ago McCain only got 32 percent.

Who would deny that Marco Rubio is a charming presence,  physically and verbally, and capable of rescuing Mitt Romney from his low approval rate among Hispanics — 22 percent?

We predict Rubio's inclusion on the ticket would ensure tremendous inroads with Latinos, especially those from Florida. Florida happens to be one the crucial battleground states in the November elections, the very one that ensured George W. Bush's victory over Al Gore in those memorable and hotly contested elections.

Rubio will make an impact in other states, of course. It's likely even in Pennsylvania, which is rural and often overwhelmingly Republican outside of Philadelphia and the other metropolitan hubs.

Other battleground states where the presidential election 2012 will likely be decided, like Ohio, won't be indifferent to the handsome senator from Florida either, especially since Ohio, as much as Pennsylvania did, experienced a Hispanic population growth in double digits.

The "Marco Rubio phenomenon" will have less impact in Nevada and Colorado, but may be crucial in two other key states: New Mexico and Arizona, both headed by by Republican governors, both women, one of them a battle-hardened Hispanic lawyer: "La Gobernadora Susana Martínez."

It looks as if Republicans finally are sensing where they need to head in terms of securing some, or maybe  much, of the vital Latino vote. 

The Democrats may be playing their cards wisely, but from this standpoint, they seem overly cautious and uninspired. And slow, very slow, on the uptake.