DORAL – A day after most pundits agreed Mitt Romney had bested Newt Gingrich in Thursday night’s nationally-televised debate, he received enthusiastic applause and several standing ovations while speaking to about 500 leaders at the Hispanic Leadership Network conference.
Gingrich? Not so much.

The two GOP presidential candidates said many of the same things to the group formed by former Gov. Jeb Bush. For instance, both want to open up trade with Latin America, both want to free Cuban from the clutches of Fidel Castro, both said they love immigrants but hate illegal immigration and both want the Dream Act to require American-raised children of immigrants to serve in the military before they can achieve citizenship and what is now an elusive college education.
However, Gingrich’s speech fell flat. Some suggested he was tired after flying from Jacksonville to Miami immediately after the debate to make a morning appearance before the Latin Builders Association.
John Papavaritis, a Miami real estate agent, agreed that the two candidates agreed on many issues. For instance, both said something has to be done to streamline the nation’s bureaucratic process of obtaining visas, which prevents people from visiting and working here.
“Gingrich said the same thing,” Papavaritis admitted. “With Mitt, there was less rhetoric.” (PostPolitics/Musgrave)

FloridaLatinConnection/ Varona

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