U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine launched “Latinos for Kaine” on Wednesday in an attempt to carve inroads to Virginia’s growing Hispanic population.
The effort emphasizes Kaine’s connections to the Latino community from his time as Virginia’s governor. The Democrat is expected to win the party’s nomination to replace retiring Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.
“I have enjoyed a long and productive partnership with the Latino community during my time in public life and I’m thrilled to have the support of so many great Virginia Latino leaders,” Kaine said in a statement. “The Spanish I learned as a missionary in Honduras has opened many doors during my time as a civil rights attorney, mayor, and governor, and if elected to the Senate I pledge to continue to work closely with the Latino community to secure improved economic opportunities for all Americans.”
Kaine also touted support from 100 representatives from the Latino community.
</div> <p>According to 2010 U.S. Census data, the adult Latino population in the commonwealth nearly doubled over the last decade, making it a crucial voting bloc in 2012. About 7 percent of residents over the age of 18 identified themselves as “Hispanic” or “Latino.”</p> <p>Kaine will likely face Republican George Allen, also a former governor, in a race expected to remain very tight to the end.</p> <p>The announcement, written in English and Spanish, was accompanied by a video. </p>
