It has been rather odd to see this current election cycle - with Democrats poised to make big national gains and the party’s presidential candidate creating big buzz - and yet there’s little apparent excitement about the whole thing in the heavily Dem Rio Grande Valley.

A good part of it, no doubt, is the regional letdown among Dems here that a Clinton is not the party’s presidential standard bearer. Bill and Hill are loved here as we saw during the Dem’s presidential primary contest when Hillary was swamped with hugs and kisses during her campaign stops. During a Brownsville stop, when Hill said, “My heart belongs to the Valley,” the locals swooned and tears rolled in hearing these undoubtly authentic sentiments.

Barack Obama made a couple of visits himself, and he was welcomed amicably, pero rather cooly. It was like, `You’re an interesting guy, but we’re already dating someone else.’ It didn’t help when Obama thanked one of his more prominent supporters, state Rep. Eddie Lucio The Third, but butchered the last name by saying it “lou-chillo,” instead of the correct “lou-see-oh.” Oh well, being the quick study that he is, Obama mastered how to say Lucio the right way on his next visit while gobbling down a turkey leg at Sombrero Festival.  

Hillary won huge in the Dem primary among RGV types. Statewide, the Obama-Clinton race was surprisingly close, with Hillary edging out a win, but here in the RGV, it was a blowout for HIll. So, likely, lots of Hill & Bill lovers in the Valley haven’t got over their candidate losing to Obama. I have a sibling who falls in those ranks. She idolizes Hillary for a number of reasons. My sister is a successful businesswoman and consultant who admires Clinton for her toughness, her intelligence, and for her ability to succeed, as she puts it, “in a man’s world.”

My sibling is still in post-Hillary lost the election therapy. She cannot bring herself to like Obama, won’t vote for the man, and plans to vote for McCain despite saying he’s “too pro-war,” not to mention my sibling is pro-choice on the you-know-what issue. No matter, better to vote for a candidate you don’t agree with on the issues vs. someone you do agree with but happen to loath.

I suspect there’s more Dem-leaning RGV voters like my sister. The region will ultimately vote for Obama in November but not with much love. Nationally, Obama is leading McCain among Latino voters by huge margins, with most reputable polls showing a roughly 64 percent to 25 percent lead for the Dem candidate. In 2004, George W. received roughly 40 percent of the Hispanic vote, and Republicans were hoping for the same in 2008, pero forget about it after the hate immigrant production the GOP right put on two years ago in shooting down immigration reform supported by W, (and once upon a time McCain).

The 2004 prez race was a weird one around here as well. I recall seeing significantly more Bush yard signs and W bumper stickers than those for Kerry. The 2004 Dem candidiate was another guy the locals never really warmed up to either; maybe it was the post-Bill letdown and/or the fact W was seen as a straight-talking Texan before he began to shrink after Katrina.

So while Valley types may be cool to Barack, the same apparently doesn’t hold among Hispanics in New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada, where strong Latino support for the Dem candidate may give him critical victories that would prove huge in the electoral college landscape. Looks like the gallitos are coming home to roost after all of the hateful immigrant language from hard right GOP types and their buddies on talk radio.

If Obama does win in November, we’ll see if he grows on Dems in the Valley. Right now, they’re not sure, it would appear. So, enjoy all of the McCain-Palin signs when you drive through Harlingen and north McAllen, which may be the sort of “pro-American” places that Gov. Sarah likes to talk about.

- R.D. Cavazos

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