Friday, June 22, 2012

Video: Decision makers: Courting the Latino vote



>> of course, latinos are one of the key constituencies that could ultimately decide who wins the white house . tonight we begin a series of reports in the most fiercely contested battleground states zeroing in on the decision makers. and the issues that matter to them most. tonight david gregory takes us to virginia and some undecided latino voters. both sides are fighting so hard to win over.

>> hey, what you doing?

>> reporter: mary servent of leesburg, virginia from venezuela originally became an american citizen three and a half years ago. she is still working on her english as she raises two boys and runs a small marketing firm. in this presidential race her vote counts a lot.

>> this is hard.

>> reporter: what is most important to you when you're trying to decide who you're going to vote for?

>> the economy is more important.

>> reporter: she says she has confidence in mitt romney 's business skills, but agrees with some of the attacks against him.

>> he is going to go for the rich people in this country. i don't feel he speaks to me.

>> reporter: president obama , she complains, promised too much. especially on immigration.

>> i love hispanic people . remember this situation.

>> reporter: he is with the president. he argues things are better now and mr. obama needs more time to fix the economy.

>> it's not been as fast as we all wish but at least we are not continuing to lose jobs.

>> reporter: how important are families like this? consider this. four years ago here in virginia hispanics made up 4% of presidential voters and the community has only grown, so an additional 1% or 2% could decide whether or not president obama keeps this all important swing state in his column. nationally the president has a huge 2 - 1 advantage over mr. romney among latino voters. but romney's strategy may not be to win among latinos . he is simply trying to cut into the lead.

>> is the america of 11% hispanic unemployment the america of our dreams? we can do better.

>> reporter: telemundo's reporter says both candidates need to convince latinos they know what is important to them.

>> for latino voters the economy, unemployment, the home crisis, the foreclosure crisis, all these issues that affect all of us in the country, have been disproportionately affecting latinos .

>> reporter: high stakes . for mary servent it will be her very first time vote forgue presideforgue -- voting for president. you are the decider in the fall.

>> it's important. it's power for us.

>> reporter: power but for now a tough choice. david gregory , nbc news, leesburg, virginia .

>> david's guest on "meet the press" this sunday will be florida senator marco rubio . he has written a new book on his immigrant roots and will talk to david about that sunday on "meet the press."

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