Castro Brothers Have Become a Powerful Political Tandem

By Victor Landa, NewsTaco

While the Republicans are revving the party faithful in Tampa this week, hoping  their message seeps into the hearts and minds of the undecided voters in the nine swing states of the union, the Democrats are biding their time, warming their motors, slowly setting up shop for their turn at the spotlight next week in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Second only to the big speech delivered by the party nominees, the convention keynote is considered the highlight of the opening proceedings. For the Republicans, the honor goes to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. And while Christie steps up to the podium at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, the Democratic keynoter, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, I’m sure will be taking note.

The plan, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News, is for Castro’s twin brother, Joaquin – himself a U.S. Congressional candidate – to introduce the mayor to the crowd in Charlotte and to the nation watching on TV. It’s a powerful tandem that’s gotten the attention of the Democratic leadership.

The San Antonio Express-News reports on Joaquin:

He hopes to work with a second Obama administration on job creation and access to health care, “particularly because we’re in a state where you have the highest percentage of uninsured people,” Castro said.

If elected, Castro would fill the seat of retiring U.S. Rep. Charles Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, who replaced his father, the late Henry B. Gonzalez, in the solidly Democratic district.

“I realize I have big shoes to fill,” Castro said. “We’ve tried to take nothing for granted. That’s why we’re still running a full-fledged campaign,” he said.

Apparently what the brother’s have that the national political structure has noticed is something innate. Again the Express-News:

Democratic operative Gilberto Ocañas of San Antonio, a veteran of many national campaigns and mentor to the Castros, said the brothers are a rare breed, “people who are smart but have this really grassroots substance to them.”

“They’re so respectful of the legacy of the leadership of the past, and the struggles. Whether or not Rosie wants to take credit, it’s something that’s embedded in them. It’s in their DNA,” Ocañas said.

The immediate moment, though, belongs to Julian and the speech he’s crafting  in the days leading up to the opening of the Democratic Convention next week. In the next few days both Castro’s will be watching, like the rest of us, the events in Tampa to see how the Republicans stage their message.