Opinion: Me llamo Obama

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This may be a first.

The opening ad by a major presidential candidate (Barack Obama) in a state of some importance in the nominating process (Nevada) is in a foreign language (Spanish).

Also, at a time when the mood in the country can hardly be described as pro-immigrant, Obama promotes the fact that his father was from Kenya.

‘As a son of a foreign father who came to this country looking for a better life, Barack Obama learned that differences do not divide, but rather enrich,’ the ad says, according to a translation provided by the candidate’s campaign.

The 60-second radio spot began airing today on stations in the Las Vegas and Reno markets. You can listen to the ad here.

Nevada is slated to conduct caucuses on Jan. 19, an early date pushed by Democrats to give a Western state more primary clout than in the past. As slotted, it was to fall between the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, but that schedule now has been thrown into turmoil.

Latinos are expected to represent a major share of those attending Nevada’s Democratic caucuses, and White House contender Bill Richardson, the Latino governor from nearby New Mexico, plans a major push to win the contest. But Obama’s ad underscores that the state is likely to be a battleground, which is just what the Democratic National Committee had in mind.

-- Don Frederick