The Democratic candidate often called out for his disconnect with the Latino community is now (pretty much) the DNC’s nominee. And as such, he knows he got to get down with the peeps to try to win a leg-up on John McCain, considered by many Latinos as “sympathetic” to the immigration issue. Not one to stand in the old man’s shadow, Barack Obama will be meeting his match at the National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR) annual conference in San Diego next month:

Both senators are expected to address immigration and other issues pertinent to Latino voters, NCLR President Janet Murguía said during a visit to San Diego promoting the convention. Obama’s plans were announced yesterday; McCain had agreed earlier to address the convention.

The fact that both candidates will attend “speaks to a number of things, not only to the importance of the Latino vote, but also to the importance of this region and this state,” Murguía said during a news conference.

This is an event to watch: high-profile, with both candidates attending. I really hope that Obama doesn’t end up showing himself as even more conservative on immigration than McCain at this event.

Via / SignOn San Diego