Obama, McCain to offer contrasts on Cuba policy
By BETH REINHARD
McClatchy Newspapers
Democrat Barack Obama is slated to address the prominent Cuban American
National Foundation on May 23, setting up a near-collision over foreign
policy with Republican John McCain, who is delivering a major speech on
Cuba three days earlier.
Their back-to-back appearances in Miami will offer one of the sharpest
contrasts of the fledgling general election campaign: Obama favors
pursuing democratic reforms by talking to the Cuban government and
allowing Cuban-Americans to travel freely and send money to the island.
McCain defends the Bush administration's hard-line stance aimed at
debilitating the communist regime.
"He's looking forward to making the case in person to Florida voters
that they will have a clear choice between change in Washington and
McCain's commitment to continuing George Bush's policies," said Obama
spokesman Josh Earnest.
The candidates' divergent views on Cuba reflect their broader campaign
strategies, with Obama seeking to portray himself as an agent of change
and McCain aspiring to the image of the seasoned foreign-policy steward.
"I don't know how popular Obama will be when he's advocating
unconditionally sitting down with the communist government of Cuba
before they make necessary changes and hold free and fair elections,"
McCain spokesman Jeff Sadosky said.
Obama will headline the lobbying group's Cuban Independence Day luncheon
in Coral Gables, a politically and emotionally charged setting for his
first campaign trip to Florida in nine months. McCain is scheduled to
speak at the Sheraton Miami Mart - his first speech on Cuba since he
clinched the GOP nomination.
"The presence of both candidates here next week will be a landmark for
our community," said Jorge Mas Santos, chairman of the foundation. "It's
important not just that they speak, but that they listen to us, our
aspirations, our dreams and the voice of the victims who suffer under a
repressive tyranny."
The foundation is officially non-partisan, but the group opposes
President Bush's tighter limits on travel and remittances. The
foundation does not share Obama's willingness to talk to the Cuban
government.
His speech will be one of several delicate matters to finesse as Obama
aims to court a must-win state that heavily favored rival Hillary Clinton.
Both candidates boycotted the state before its Jan. 29 primary that
broke national party rules.
"She shows no sign of doing anything but winning," said Miami lawyer Ira
Leesfield, who was among the top fundraisers who met with Clinton in
Washington on Wednesday.
But Obama has continued to expand his delegate lead, day by day, and
landed one of his biggest endorsements yet Wednesday from former rival
John Edwards. The trip to Florida is another sign of the campaign's
confidence.
Details are still pending, but Obama is expected to headline a large
rally in South Florida and attend a smaller event with U.S. Rep. Robert
Wexler in his district straddling Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Wexler, a staunch defender of Israel, has been trying to diffuse
concerns about Obama's policy toward Iran and his ex-pastor's criticism
of Israel.
The congressman spoke Tuesday to a heavily Jewish crowd at the Kings
Point retirement community in Tamarac.
"It's a fortress of people who voted for Hillary and some of them were
saying they would never vote for Obama," said longtime Broward
Democratic leader Diane Glasser, who has not endorsed either candidate.
"But I think Wexler calmed a lot of people down."
She added: "Obama hasn't been here, so no one really knows him. He's got
to let people get to know him and get their questions answered."
Obama put a toehold in Florida last weekend when he launched a
voter-registration drive in more than a dozen Florida cities.
As the Democratic Party faces an additional three weeks - at least -
without a presidential nominee, the Republican Party of Florida is
gearing up to open its Miami campaign headquarters on Saturday.
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