Legal Commentary

Hillary and Obama Campaign in Puerto Rico

By Jeralyn

(larger and clearer version here.)

Update: On Hillary's speech in Aguadilla Sat. night:

Clinton spoke at an evening rally in Aguadilla, where she reminded the crowd of her ties to Puerto Rico as a first lady and then as senator from New York, which has approximately 1 million Puerto Rican residents. "My commitment to Puerto Rico did not start last month or last year," she said. "I will always be your voice as president." Through her speech, Clinton drew applause by insisting Puerto Ricans should get the same tax breaks, health care and economic opportunity afforded mainland U.S. citizens. "You deserve a president who will give Puerto Rico's issues as much attention as the president gives to any state," she said.

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The Democratic candidates today are in Puerto Rico. Hillary will be in Aguadilla tonight, on the northwest tip of the island.

There are 3.9 million people in Puerto Rico and 2.5 million registered voters. The major parties are the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Progressive Party (NPP). In 2004, 2 million people voted. [More...]

• Stats from 2004 elections:
  Registered Voters : 2,440,131
  Voter Turnout: 1,994,269 81.7%

Here's how they voted.

Here is the delegate selection plan (pdf.) There are 55 pledged delegates and 8 unpledged:

• District-Level Delegates 36
  At-Large 12
  Party Ldrs/Elec'd Officials 7
  Unpledged Delegates 8
  Total: 63

(Unpledged delegates include the add-on unpledged delegate(s), the state's Democratic National Committee members, and Democratic Members of Congress, the Democratic Governor, and certain former Party leaders, if any, who automatically serve as delegates.)

I'll leave the island political analysis to our resident expert Big Tent Democrat. While I spent every law school vacation there (my parents lived in the Mayaguez section then) and many high school and college vacations with friends in San Juan, I didn't get into the politics.

Puerto Ricans don't get to vote in November, but their votes count in the primary. A big win for Hillary could boost her popular vote even higher.

If on June 3, we find Obama ahead in delegate totals and Hillary ahead in the popular vote, counting MI, FL and caucus states, the remaining issue in my mind is electabilty in November. That goes to the swing states, particularly PA, OH and FL. Hillary outshines Obama there.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on May 24, 2008 (boomark / email).