Hartford's Pedro Segarra Makes Push for Latino Votes

When Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra began his early rhetorical push, he used a decent amount of "us versus them" talk.

Here's how Segarra described his opponent Luke Bronin to WNPR: "The fact that he’s white is not the issue," he said. "The fact that he’s disconnected and not really from here, and has a profile that’s unlike anything that you see in our city, that’s what makes him very disconnected."

But now, Segarra's tone appears to be getting much more focused.

As he fights for his seat, fending off a challenge from a white candidate with a lot of support in the city's African American community, Segarra's campaign is trying to motivate the Latino vote.

There's a video created by marketing consultant Latino Way and paid for by the campaign. It calls on people to vote -- just like they go to festivals and to Puerto Rican parades and "raise our [Puerto Rican] flag with pride."

And it asks people to vote "Line B for Boricua." Watch the video below:

Then, in online posts on Facebook and Twitter, a person who the campaign says is a volunteer is posting graphics that try to harness the power of the city's Latinos behind the incumbent mayor.

One says, "Vote Line B for Boricua!" 

And another calls on voters to defend the honor of being Latino. 

One says, "Hartford is in our hands, Latinos get out to vote!" 

And there are a series of calls to action for Latinos, Peruvians, Dominicans, Ecuadorans, Mexicans, and others.

It's worth noting that only 17 Twitter users actually follow the @estoyconpedro account -- so its reach could be questioned.

Meanwhile, Segarra's challenger, Luke Bronin, has released yet another television ad.

Bronin is the Democratic party's choice for mayor.  The primary is next week.