Meg Whitman is locked in a battle with state attorney general Jerry Brown, the Democratic candidate. (Photo by Lindy Hall/CNN)
Story Created:
Jun 18, 2010 at 2:50 AM PST
Story Updated:
Jun 18, 2010 at 2:56 AM PST
Washington (CNN) -- The Republican who wants to be the next governor of California has a message for the state's Latinos: "Meg Whitman es una candidata diferente."
Translation: "Meg Whitman is a different kind of candidate."
The former eBay CEO released two Spanish-language television ads as part of a calculated courting of the state's 13.5 million+ Hispanics.
"She is the Republican who opposes the Arizona law..." an announcer says in one of the ads.
Many Latinos have vented anger at Arizona's passing of the nation's toughest immigration law. It requires law enforcement agents to "determine the immigration status" of anyone under "reasonable suspicion" of being an illegal alien. Essentially, the law provides police with the power and responsibility that is normally accorded only to federal immigration authorities.
Arizona's law was pressed by state Republicans and signed by GOP Gov. Jan Brewer. Polls show the law has garnered strong support in some quarters.
But Republicans could face trouble at the ballot box following a national outcry from Latinos.
It's likely that Whitman wants to inoculate her candidacy from any possible anger aimed at the GOP.
"She respects our community," one of the ads say.
In the same spot, an announcer also mentions how Whitman "opposed Proposition 187." The controversial measure, passed through voter referendum in 1994, intended to deny state services to thousands of illegal immigrants. It was later found unconstitutional.
Whitman's two television ads, which also tout her intentions for jobs and education, will air across California. The campaign says they will run during the World Cup games on Univision, Telemundo and Telefutura.
Whitman is locked in a battle with state attorney general Jerry Brown, the Democratic candidate.
CNN contacted Brown's campaign but did not receive comment.
The Democratic Governor's Association is responding.
In a statement, Communications Director Emily DeRose said: "After Meg Whitman spent the closing weeks of her primary convincing the right wing that she was hard line enough to be their nominee, she has changed her tune. And her ad traffic. No more [former GOP pres. candidate] Mitt Romney and [former GOP California Gov.] Pete Wilson vouching for her conservative credentials."
DeRose added that Whitman's GOP primary battle with conservative State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, "forced her to alienate much of the Latino community."
In their primary race, Poizner accused Whitman of supporting "amnesty" for illegal immigrants, a charge Whitman denied.
Amid the battle for conservative votes, Whitman's campaign said the candidate would be tough on illegal immigration.
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