Spanish-language Romney ad counters George Lopez

Published July 18, 2012 4:00am ET



Comedian George Lopez predicted recently that Mitt Romney would lose the Hispanic vote because the Republican wouldn’t “admit” that his grandfather was born in Mexico. Romney released a Spanish-language television ad today that emphasizes that background as part of a play for Hispanic votes.

“I would like to tell you how my father, Mitt Romney, thinks,” Romney’s son, Craig, says in the ad in Spanish.  “He values very much that we are a nation of immigrants.  My grandfather George was born in Mexico. For our family the greatness of the United States is how we respect and help each other, regardless of where we come from. As President, my father will work on a permanent solution to the immigration system, working with leaders of both parties.” The Romney camp said the ad is running in target states throughout the country.

Last week, Lopez made his comments during an HBO special. “Mitt Romney wants the Latino vote. He ain’t going to get it. He ain’t going to get it. And you know why? Because Mitt Romney is a [expletive] Latino and he won’t admit it,” he said. “His father was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. Mitt Romney is a Chicano.”

Romney’s team hasn’t commented directly on Lopez’s remarks.