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Romney camp aims to win over Hispanics - Boston.com

Spanish-speaking surrogates are being trained, and there are ongoing talks with a major Hispanic advertising firm to work on new television ads that are aimed at Spanish-speakers.
With a bit of irony, the campaign is also reaching out to a group that combines two constituencies that Romney has fared poorly with in the past: Hispanic evangelicals.
The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, said he has been in touch with Romney’s campaign as recently as this week. He thinks the campaign is making significant progress - and has done more outreach than Senator John McCain had at this point four years ago - but still has a way to go.
“I can’t deny the fact that he’s going to inevitably have to cross the proverbial Jordan of immigration,’’ Rodriguez said. “If he wants to step into the Promised Land, he’s going to have to address immigration reform.’’
Romney is preparing a speech on June 21 before a group of Latino officials in Orlando, an address that some of his Hispanic advisers are pointing to as a potential major turning point. Romney will address that group, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, one day before President Obama does, so it will provide a stark contrast between the two candidates on dealing with the nation’s persistent immigration problems.
It is still unclear how detailed a policy Romney will outline in that address, with one potential variable being a bill that is being drafted by Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican and top Hispanic leader. Romney has said only that he is examining Rubio’s plan, which would grant non-immigrant visas to young people here illegally if they go to college or serve in the military.
The plan is a modified version of the so-called DREAM Act, which Democrats have been pushing for several years. That plan would provide a pathway to citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants, something that Rubio’s initial proposal stopped short of.
A reform proposal by Rubio, a potential vice presidential pick, could provide a way for Romney to recast his position on immigration.