Why Cuban-Americans Are Breaking For McCain

Posted: Jan 29, 2008 8:09 PM

If John McCain holds on and wins tonight, a lot of anti-McCain folks will say McCain won the Hispanic vote in Florida because of (as they say) "ShAmnesty." 

Of course, it's important to consider the fact that the large Cuban-American community in Florida is very different from other Hispanic groups around the country. 

In fact, I'm told one big reason John McCain is doing so well in the Cuban-American community tonight has nothing to do with Immigration -- or because he was endorsed by Sen. Mel Martinez.  Instead, it has to do with the fact that he fought Communism and was a P.O.W. (something many Cubans understand all too well). 

One prime example of this support is Armando Valladares, a prominent Cuban-American leader who was appointed by Reagan to be UN Ambassador to the Human Rights Commission.  Valladares endorsed McCain over a year ago.