Havana hosts an American president for the first time in almost 90 years, and reactions in the Cuban capital range from optimism to cynicism.

Secretary John Kerry will preside over a historic flag-raising ceremony on Friday.

Many Cubans on the street were candid about the biggest issue they say they face — their inability to afford the steep prices for basic items for starters.

Praeli will also be one of the campaign’s surrogates with the press on Latino issues, including immigration.

President Obama has largely stayed off center stage during the immigration negotiations in Congress.

A version of this story originally appeared on NBC Latino.