Bill Nelson, Democrats in Central Florida to Woo Puerto Rican Vote

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Democrat leaders galore staged a town hall meeting in Central Florida Saturday to gain the support of the 300,000-or-so Puerto Ricans living in the area. The event at the Asociaci Borinque de Florida Central in Orlando was attended by dozens.

Nelson wasn't necessarily the biggest name at the event. Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico's representative in Congress, stood with Nelson, encouraging people to vote and get involved with their governments, especially when states are redistricting and dealing with issues critically important to them like unemployment.

There are 847,000 Puerto Ricans in Florida who are U.S. citizens and eligible to vote.

Democrats know they will need the Hispanic vote if they want a chance to win Florida in 2012, said Lucy Soto, chair of the Hispanic Caucus of the Seminole County Democratic Party.
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