Local Professor Describes Significance Behind President's Visit To Puerto Rico

READING, Pa. -- Some Berks County Analysts are calling President Barack Obama's Tuesday visit to Puerto Rico ambitious.President Obama's visit to the island was the first official presidential visit in 50 years. It also came just one day after the first Republican presidential debate."They are being very aggressive right now," said Dr. Tim Blessing, political analyst and professor at Alvernia University. When the president spoke to a crowd of hundreds, he reminded them of his last visit."When I came here to campaign," said President Barack Obama, "I promised that I would return as President of the United States."Analysts explained that the president visited Puerto Rico to drum up support.Even though Puerto Ricans hold American citizenship, only the approximately 4 million living in the 50 states can vote in presidential elections.But, Luis Alier, from the Hispanic Center in Reading, explained that Puerto Ricans living on the island still hold tremendous influence that the president Obama is looking to capture."The importance of being there, he wants to get advantage or gain the delegates that will take him to a second term," said Alier.On the U.S. mainland, analysts explain the Obama campaign has already opened offices where there are high populations of Puerto Ricans."It's a very aggressive move on Obama's part," said Blessing. "It's saying that he's going to put Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, in play right now. It's a very move aggressive on his part." Also, at the center of the Puerto Rican vote is the question of whether Puerto Rico should remain a commonwealth or become a state."What it would do to Puerto Rican taxes, which is increase them mightily. The trouble with being an independent state of course is that it's going to cost you, and you don't get the benefits of being attached to the United States," explained Blessing.President Obama said whether Puerto Rico wants to become a state, or remain a commonwealth, his administration would support the island's decision.

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