McCain's Latino Strategy: The Cubans

Leave it to John McCain to kick off his wooing of the Latino voter with a Spanish radio commercial appealing to the Cubans in Florida who are possibly the closest thing to a lock-cinch for the Republicans next to the party's loyal right-wingers.

In an attempt to knock Barack Obama's willingness to meet with some enemies of the U.S., McCain's ad tells Cuban Americans he would effectively continue the four-decades-old embargo of Cuba and not meet with new Cuban president Raul Castro until the release of all political prisoners in that country.

"While some support a dialogue with Raul Castro, John McCain believes we should support the courageous men and women who continue to stand up for freedom in Cuba. Rather than resume relations with Raul Castro, John McCain wants first and foremost for all political prisoners to be released."

A more important Latino voting bloc that poses a potential threat to the GOP's hold on states such as Texas are the Mexican Americans in the Southwest, and McCain hasn't yet begun addressing that constituency in the months since clinching the Republican nomination.

Smart, John.