Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, a Democratic presidential candidate, will be unveiling his foreign policy plan for Latin America on campus today.
“The speech itself focuses on Latin America and how (Richardson) would approach the region as president,” said Tom Reynolds, a spokesman for Richardson.
The event will be hosted by the Bruin Democrats and the New Democratic Network, a political organization and advocacy group.
Having Richardson speak on campus is exciting, said Bruin Democrats President Kyle Kleckner, adding that he believes Richardson’s background as a Western governor makes him a unique candidate that students can gravitate toward.
Joe Garcia, executive director of the New Democratic Network, agreed.
“Californians in particular understand that dynamism and the diversity of what America will look like, and Bill Richardson represents that,” Garcia said.
“He’s a very open guy, and I think students will get that feeling when they meet him,” he added.
Richardson is the only Mexican American candidate in the presidential race; he spent part of his childhood in Mexico.
This, in conjunction with his experience as governor of a state that borders Mexico, has shaped his views on immigration and has made him popular among Mexican Americans, according to polling data.
Richardson supports securing the border ““ though not by use of a fence ““ while also establishing what his Web site calls a “reasonable” and “tough but fair” path to legalization for undocumented immigrants.
This is a similar position to those taken by fellow Democratic presidential candidates Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards since they all want to require undocumented immigrants already in the United States to pay fines or back taxes for entering illegally.
Supporters of Richardson say his proposed policy presents a contrast with that of the current administration because they believe it promotes more open discussion with countries such as Cuba and Venezuela that have historically strained ties with the United States.
Richardson has participated in diplomatic trips abroad to countries including Iraq and North Korea and was also appointed United Nations ambassador by President Bill Clinton.
Reynolds said this experience is an important part of the Latin American policy that Richardson will be discussing.
“He’s met with the leaders of these (Latin American) countries; he knows the region … and that informs the policy that he puts forth,” he said.
One issue on which Richardson differs from his fellow Democratic candidates Obama, Clinton and Edwards is a plan for Iraq.
These other candidates, Reynolds said, cannot commit to having forces out by 2013, which is part of Richardson’s platform.