Leslie Sanchez CNN Political Contributor Republican Strategist Barack Obama is going where no Democrat seeking the presidency has gone since Jimmy Carter in 1976. Carter, who ran to the right of Gerald Ford on cultural issues, actively sought the support of white Southern evangelicals. And he got it – the last Democrat to do so in a national election. Now, seeking to capitalize on the uncertainty some prominent Christian activists like Dr. James Dobson have voiced about John McCain, Sen. Obama is seeking to match Carter by cementing his relationship with the faith community. On Tuesday, signaling that he recognizes religion has an impact on the U.S. political process; Sen. Obama met in Chicago with faith leaders from across the country. He has some fence mending to do, especially in the aftermath of the scandalous, anti-American sermons delivered by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. But the evangelical community is significantly different from when Carter sought their support in 1976 or when they switched to Ronald Reagan and the GOP in 1976. Largely overlooked by most commentators is the emerging number of Hispanic evangelicals, who politically are up for grabs. According to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center, 15 percent of Hispanics are evangelicals. Hispanics are the largest single U.S. minority group, making them a critical voter bloc in this fall’s election. Moreover, it’s an important bloc in the most important states for either candidate – California, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, Texas and New Jersey. A strong push in one direction or the other could change the outcome in one of these states and, with it, the results in the Electoral College. This makes Hispanic evangelicals a target – and an important one. For Sen. Obama, it’s uphill sledding. Hispanics leaders say the lack of a significant presence in his campaign is cause for them to be concerned. According to Rev. Luis Cortes, head of Esperanza USA, Obama has yet to outline any specifics for a Hispanic agenda and remains inaccessible at ” 10,000 feet.” Sen. McCain, having won election numerous times in Hispanic-rich Arizona, is better off – but only by a little. Internally neither campaign has done much to incorporate Hispanics into their infrastructure. Sen. Obama is relying on the support of high-profile, nationally-known surrogates including New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – who has come over from the Clinton camp - to solidify his support among Hispanics. Sen. McCain is hoping his roots in the southwest, his record of distinguished military service and his support for immigrant-friendly immigration reform will help him better the record 40 percent Hispanic vote won by President Bush in 2004. Of that 40 percent, almost three-quarters were evangelicals. Their feelings about immigration put them at odds with their non-Hispanic evangelical counterparts – but both groups are a compassionate, family-oriented and value-based constituency on issues such as abortion and gay marriage. So, as Planned Parenthood moves toward an endorsement of Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain has room to make additional inroads to the Hispanic community on issues – like education and school choice – that matter to them. Sen. McCain has been a leader in the push for school choice in Arizona that would allow low-income families the same options for educating their children that rich, white liberals have. Sen. Obama, who must earn and keep the active support of the National Education Association and its members if he is to have any chance of winning in the fall, cannot say the same. And this could cost him votes. A report by Pew Hispanic Center identifies it as the top concern for Hispanics. And, while Sen. Obama is working to solidify his hold on the nomination and unify the party behind him, Sen. McCain is speaking to the national conventions of the National Council of La Raza and the League of United Latin American Citizens. The impact of Hispanic evangelicals and the broader Hispanic community will be far-reaching in this election and may determine the winner between the two senators. Editor’s Note: Leslie Sanchez is also the CEO of market research firm Impacto Group, which advises large companies on women’s & Hispanic issues. Less