Question

what does the article "the 2004 campaign the Hispanic vote" tell you about the American political system

Answer 1

Answer:

The Arizona primary was less than 48 hours away, and John Ramos, a 38-year-old Mexican-American Democrat who voted for the first time in 2000, had still not made up his mind.

''As a Democrat, I really am not thrilled,'' said Mr. Ramos, who runs a small construction company in South Phoenix with his wife. ''I think a lot of us are the same way. I just don't see a real front-runner that I'm totally happy with.''

With time running out, the Democratic presidential candidates are heavily courting the surging number of Hispanics in Arizona and New Mexico who are about to go to the polls in what some have labeled Latino Super Tuesday.

The potential power of the Hispanic vote is clear: In Arizona, 25 percent of residents are now Hispanic; in New Mexico, 42 percent are Hispanic.

And, like Mr. Ramos, many are tempted by Senator John Kerry's momentum and standing in the polls -- he is ahead in both states -- as well as his endorsement by some of the most influential Hispanic politicians here. But a lot of Mr. Ramos's Hispanic friends were leaning toward Gen. Wesley K. Clark, who has made a big push here over the last few days and who, like Mr. Kerry, holds appeal for the large number of Hispanic veterans in Arizona.

Other Hispanics favored Howard Dean, who campaigned hard here early but then seemed to drop off the radar. Then again, a lot of other Hispanics Mr. Ramos has met as he registers them to vote were favoring Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, who had even gone down to Nogales, on the Mexican border, and who seemed to be the most aggressive in courting Hispanics here, Mr. Ramos said.