The Democratic mayor of Los Angeles says Republican efforts to use Latino speakers at the GOP national convention to win over Latino voters won't work.

Antonio Villaraigosa told reporters Tuesday that the GOP "can't just trot out a brown face or a Spanish surname" and expect Latinos to vote Republican. He called that window dressing.

He said a party's policies are more important. He said the GOP platform calls for the self-deportation of 11 million people. The Republican platform supports tougher policies to staunch illegal immigration.

Latinos heavily supported President Barack Obama in the 2008 election. Polls show him leading with that group this year over GOP challenger Mitt Romney.

Villaraigosa is in Tampa as part of a Democratic effort to highlight their views during the GOP gathering.