Puerto Rico Presidential Primary XII: Tostones

Tostones

Presidential primary brings attention, frustration to Puerto Rico
Puerto Ricans enjoy US citizenship but limited benefits from it. They serve in wars, are subject to payroll taxes - without getting the same benefits as state residents - and are not guaranteed all of the rights in the US Constitution,

The end is (probably) near
On Sunday, Puerto Rico holds its primary. Talk about a primary no one five months ago thought would matter. But like a string of other states and territories, Puerto Rico has benefited from this hard-fought primary season.

Rain Doesn't Dampen Clinton's Spirits in Puerto Rico
It rained on Hillary Clinton's parade.

Will Puerto Ricans boycott presidential primary?
BUT THERE ARE people in Puerto Rico who think the ultimate statement is one they can make towards the candidates – ignore both of them. Why, they wonder, should they take any interest in the U.S. presidential primaries when they don’t get any say in the general election, or any representation in Congress?

Limelight Falls on Colorful Puerto Rican Primary
Of course, Puerto Ricans want to protect their own culture, their own language, their own candidate in Miss Universe competitions, which they've won an extraordinary five times. And most mainland politicians seem more or less satisfied with the quasi-colonial status quo. So while on June 1st Puerto Ricans will exert more influence than they've ever had before in U.S. politics, by June 2, they'll still lack the right to vote for their commander-in-chief.

Will Clinton or Obama be voted off the island?
So even though Hillary, Bill and Chelsea Clinton have spent enough time wandering around Puerto Rico over the last few weeks that you could easily confuse them with tourists who got a good rate on a family vacation package, it's looking like the turnout for Sunday's primary won't hit the mark Clinton needs to take a lead in the popular vote before the Democratic campaign finally lurches to an end on Tuesday.

Stumping to island beat
Where the candidates see voters, Puerto Rico sees an opening. Local leaders, long frustrated by what they view as Washington's indifference, say the primary is a rare opportunity to focus American attention on island issues.

Clinton: 'This is Puerto Rico's time'
“I want to see Puerto Rico’s status resolved within my first term,” she said. “I have loved campaigning through Puerto Rico because I believe this is Puerto Rico’s time, that you have waited long enough.”

Puerto Rico inmates cast early ballots for Dem. primary
Arturo Vazquez is locked up for assault and robbery, but he and hundreds of other prisoners may have a say in choosing the next president of the United States, casting early ballots Friday in Puerto Rico's key Democratic primary.

Looking Ahead to the Hispanic Vote
Scott Simon talks with Gebe Martinez, contributing columnist to Politico.com, about the upcoming Puerto Rico Democratic primary and how the Hispanic vote could break down in an Obama-McCain race. Puerto Rico holds its primary on June 1.