DNC Spending Millions to Mobilize Latinos for Obama, But Is His Camp Ignoring Black Media?

By: Michael H. Cottman

Democrats are spending an unprecedented $20 million to mobilize Hispanic voters around the candidacy of Barack Obama, whose campaign has already spent more on Latino outreach than any presidential campaign in history.

The news comes as a new Pew Hispanic Center survey finds Obama holding a substantial lead over Republican John McCain among Hispanic voters. The campaign plans to spend money in all 50 states, but will focus on swing states such as Nevada and Florida.

Democratic Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA) said the Hispanic vote has been described as a "sleeping giant." "Well, the giant has woken up, and it's being prodded now by the Obama campaign, and we're very delighted that that's happening," Solis said at a news conference.

But while some are praising the Obama campaign’s efforts to rally Hispanics, some executives in black media -- and black radio in particularly -- are grumbling privately and publicly about the campaign’s perceived reluctance to spend significant dollars to advertise with black media.

DNC Spending Millions to Mobilize Latinos for Obama, But Is His Camp Ignoring Black Media?....