Univision proposes Spanish-language presidential debates

UNIVISION PROPOSES SPANISH-LANGUAGE DEBATES
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Peter Wallsten]
Univision, the country's highest-rated Spanish-language television network and a leading draw for young adult viewers, has invited White House hopefuls from both major parties to participate in the first presidential candidate debates to be conducted entirely in Spanish. The network has proposed two debates, one for each party, to be held on back-to-back Sundays in September -- giving the candidates unprecedented exposure to a mass audience of increasingly important Latino voters. The debates, to be held in immigrant-rich Miami, would probably focus on the battle over legalizing millions of undocumented immigrants. The Democratic candidates tend to back legalization. But the Univision debate could exacerbate a split over the issue among the GOP contenders, further highlighting a divide that party strategists fear might alienate Latino voters, a fast-growing electorate. Moreover, the Spanish-language aspect of the debate could prove particularly awkward for the Republican field, where all candidates except Sen McCain favor making English the official language of the United States. It was not clear Tuesday whether the campaigns on either side would accept Univision's proposal. Officials from several campaigns, deluged with debate proposals from interest groups and media, said they would consider the invitation.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-univision6jun06,...
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