President Obama Visits Puerto Rico

President Barack Obama is set to visit Puerto Rico today, the first time a sitting president has done so since John F. Kennedy in 1961. Obama’s visit is, it seems, about getting out the Latino vote here on the mainland, as well as raising money from Latino donors, ABC News reported:

President Obama today becomes the first sitting U.S. president in five decades to visit Puerto Rico on a trip meant to curry favor among mainland U.S. Latinos and raise some campaign cash.

While none of the island’s nearly 4 million U.S. citizens can vote in the 2012 general election, they have some political sway, both with their pocketbooks and through ties to family members who have migrated to the states where they can vote…

Obama will hold one fundraiser during his day-long visit to the island today. He will also commemorate President John F. Kennedy’s official presidential visit in 1961 and meet with Puerto Rican Gov. Luis Fortuno.

This is an interesting strategy because it’s clear that Obama is both sending a very clear message, but not really saying much else with that message other than he wants Puerto Rican votes and money. On the other hand, I’m glad Obama went to visit Puerto Rico, which as we’ve written recently, suffers some pretty bad brain drain and has steep economic issues — that’s not even to mention the tension that often exists between puertorriqueños on the island, and here on the mainland.

What do you think about this visit?

Follow Sara Inés Calderón on Twitter @SaraChicaD