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President Obama today becomes the first sitting U.S. president in five decades to visit Puerto Rico on a trip meant to curry favor among mainland U.S. Latinos and raise some campaign cash.

While none of the island's nearly 4 million U.S. citizens can vote in the 2012 general election, they have some political sway, both with their pocketbooks and through ties to family members who have migrated to the states where they can vote.

Puerto Ricans contributed $1.7 million to federal political candidates and committees during the 2010 midterm elections, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, with 80 percent of the funds benefiting Democrats.

In the 2008 election cycle, Puerto Ricans gave roughly $4 million in itemized federal political donations, mostly to Democrats, including at least $354,000 to then-candidate Obama, the Center found.

Obama will hold one fundraiser during his day-long visit to the island today. He will also commemorate President John F. Kennedy's official presidential visit in 1961 and meet with Puerto Rican Gov. Luis Fortuno. READ MORE