In Tuesday's Contests, a Party Divided

[babylonsister]

In Tuesday's Contests, a Party Divided

By Eli Saslow
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 2, 2008; A01

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A generational rift defines the Democratic race among Latinos in the Rio Grande Valley, where Clinton once enjoyed almost complete support. Obama introduced himself here two weeks ago, and he has since generated enough momentum with young voters to threaten Clinton's Latino support base. Polls indicate that Clinton's lead has evaporated in Texas, a state that her husband has said she must win Tuesday.

An argument that began two months ago in the Lucio household now echoes along the Texas border. Whose voice is louder: that of loyal Latinos who credit Clinton for her history of paying attention to an impoverished region that so many other politicians forget? Or that of younger, better-educated Latinos who identify with Obama as a minority who emerged from nothing?

Last week at Rudy's, the Lucios sat on opposite sides of the table in silence, weary from the campaign. Both are running unopposed for reelection, and they have devoted their free time to the presidential primary. Lucio Jr. had spent his afternoon racing between Clinton events, handing out stickers and shaking hands. Meanwhile, the son whom he introduced to politics outlined a speech he would deliver at an upcoming Obama rally.

The grandson of Italians who immigrated first to Mexico and then to Texas, Lucio Jr. taught school for $8,000 a year before running for local office in 1970. He aspired to serve simple people who wanted the tools for survival -- Latino immigrants, legal and illegal, now making an average of $19,000 a year in a town that is 90 percent Latino. As a politician, he considers loyalty and dependability his greatest strengths.

Lucio III left home to dabble in professional golf before graduating from law school in Austin, and he returned to Brownsville with grand visions of change. He told his father that nothing is impossible, even in a town left without an interstate and with a main boulevard that dead-ends abruptly at the Mexican border.

"What people are beginning to realize down here is that there's such a thing as loyalty to a fault," Big Ed told his father at the restaurant. "Obama's got momentum, he's -- "

"Now listen, son. Just listen," Eddie Jr. interjected. "It's not like every young person down here is supporting Obama. I mean, what about my grandson, your nephew? He's a huge Clinton supporter."

"Dad. He's only 8."

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/01/AR2008030101720_pf.html