With Hispanic voters getting more and more attention from politicians, and with Missouri already having a significant Hispanic community, it's easy to see why our battleground state has becomesuch a target for candidates. KSMU's Katie Hummel spoke with Missouri's only Hispanic delegate to this year's Democratic National Convention.
HUMMEL: ARE CANDIDATE RESPONDING TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY?
CALCARA: MOST MINORITIES ARE BEING TARGETED BECAUSE THEY WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS ELECTION.
HUMMEL: IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOING ENOUGH TO TARGET HISPANIC VOTERS?
CALCARA: A LOT OF AMERICANS, NOT JUST MINORITIES, WITH JOBS, HEALTHCARE, THOSE ARE ALL DOMESTIC ISSUES KERRY CARES ABOUT.
HUMMEL: WHAT ABOUT WITH VOTES. IS THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY BEING TARGETED FOR VOTES?
CALCARA: THEY SHOULD RAISE THE BAR AND TARGET THEM MORE. THAT WILL LEAD TO HIGHER TURNOUT.
HUMMEL: WHAT KIND OF IMPORTANCE WILL THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY HAVE IN THE FUTURE?
CALCARA: IT'S BEEN GREAT TO SEE ALL THE HISPANIC AND LATINO DELEGATES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THEY'RE GOING TO BE A FORCE IN THE FUTURE.
HUMMEL: DO HISPANICS HAVE ANY SPECIFIC NEEDS?
CALCARA: THEY CARE ABOUT THOSE BASIC DOMESTIC ISSUES: JOBS, EDUCATION.
HUMMEL: WHAT ARE YOU TAKING FROM THIS EXPERIENCE?
CALCARA: THERE'S BEEN A MESSAGE OF UNITY. PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE DIVISION OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.
HUMMEL:CARL CALCARA IS FROM THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF MISSOURI.
THIS IS HIS FIRST YEAR AS A MISSOURI DELEGATE.