A lot of Latinos are first-generation new citizens, or second-generation children of immigrants, who don't have those deep roots of partisan attachment.

These are micro-entrepreneurs. . . . With the economy slowing down, when regular jobs shrink, people turn to starting their own business. I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but you can't accept these uncritically.

Oh my goodness, we've heard such horribly accented Spanish in the past six months, I can't tell you. You kind of wince and you say, 'OK, let's get through the Spanish,' because you know the candidate is really trying to say something to Latinos.

It makes sense for them to do this. It's a demographic imperative that's happening in the nation. It's showing that the Hispanic population is developing into a national presence. If it was still regionalised I don't know if they'd go through the trouble.

For every 100 Latinos you see walking down the street today, 34 of those 100 are under the age of 18, so they're not qualified to vote. That leaves 66. Of those 66, in certain states, 33 aren't U.S. citizens yet, so that leaves 33 Latinos. Of those 33, something like 16 don't register to vote. That leaves 17. Of the 17 Latinos who are left, about 11 to 12 actually vote.

For many years, these undocumented immigrants, as well as individuals who sympathize with the plight of this community, have been very quiet and passive. When you have 100,000 people out in the street, that gives reality to potential political power.

It might give some companies pause about the potential power that exists there. It does show you a market out there.

This is a symbolic closing of the gap that had developed for the last six years under the previous administration.

an unprecedented outreach into the Mexican immigrant community.

What the marches have done is give a human face to the immigration issue in the United States today.