As pundits debate whether Latino voters will back Democrats or Republicans, New York City’s oldest Spanish language daily newspaper suggests they consider backing third party candidates. In an April 4 editorial, El Diario la Prensa‘s Jose Armas argues that Ralph Nader and his likely running mate, Matt Gonzales, are just as worthy of Latino votes as the two main parties.

“Are we throwing away our votes if we vote for Nader? No more than we have in voting for the last 43 presidents.”

Armas cites a December 2007 poll by the paper’s publisher, Impremedia, that shows a record 15 percent of Latinos in five key states are registered as independent or members of a third party. The poll also shows 58 percent are registered as Democrats, and 20 percent as Republicans, and that 37 percent said they have no preference for a candidate from either of the two main parties.

Interestingly, Nader’s campaign website does not list immigration as one of the “12 Issues that Matter for 2008.” Back in 2000 as a Green Party candidate, he outlined U.S. trade policy and support for democratic movements in Latin America as key to shaping immigration trends.

Nader’s relevance as a candidate in this election may be nil, as few of his former allies take him seriously anymore and he has little backing. But, as Armas suggests, Latinos may be able to leverage his views on immigration.

“The Democrats might sound dismissive, but what they really are is terrified. It is here that we Latinos have a card to play.”

Can Latino support, or the threat of Latino support, for a third-party candidate change the terms of the national debate on immigration?