Hispanic Voter Shift Gives Hope To GOP

[GaryC 7]

(AP) Democrats hold an edge with Hispanics in national elections, but Latinos' growing tendency to register as independents and split their vote between parties is buoying Republican prospects for 2008.

Younger and college-educated Hispanics in particular offer fertile ground for the GOP, new data show. And while no one suggests Republicans have become the party of choice for the nation's fastest-growing minority, Democrats have been gradually losing ground.

"The Democrats began in the 1980s to slowly lose Latino registration," said Antonio Gonzalez, president of the William C. Velasquez Institute, a San Antonio-based research group that studies Hispanic issues. "It's drip, drip, drip."

President Bush claimed 40 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2004, a record for a Republican presidential candidate. But it will be challenging for the party to repeat or build on that performance — Bush's popularity has withered and many Hispanics were soured by remarks by GOP conservative hard-liners during the immigration debate.

Although Hispanics tend to vote Democratic, the percentage of Latinos who call themselves Democrats has declined in the last decade, even as the overall number of Hispanic voters climbed.

In California — home to the nation's largest Hispanic population and a coveted cache of 55 electoral votes for the 2008 presidential election — nearly two of three Hispanic voters were registered Democrats in the mid-1990s. By 2006, that figure had dropped as low as 56 percent, according to polling and registration data.

Research last year by the Public Policy Institute of California found that Hispanics in California are about equally divided among those who describe themselves as conservative, liberal and moderate.

But many Hispanic voters are choosing no party at all.

In 2002, the institute said 18 percent of likely Hispanic voters were registered as independents or some other party. By 2006, the percentage had climbed to 22 percent. Republicans gained a few percentage points in registration over that time.

Democrats continue to hold a healthy advantage with Hispanics, and nearly seven in 10 Hispanic voters supported Democratic congressional candidates last year. Party leaders say independent Hispanics lean Democratic, so the registration percentage dip is not as significant as the figures might suggest.

"They may have left ... the party, but they haven't left the Democrats," said California Democratic Chairman Art Torres. "It's both a state and a national trend."

Economic and generational forces are influencing Hispanic politics.

Hispanics identify themselves as Democrats by at least a 2-1 margin, but younger people are more likely to register as independents and are more willing to split tickets, said Lindsay Daniels, a voter registration coordinator for the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic advocacy group.

Younger voters in the country "are not sold necessarily on one party or the other," she said. "Latinos are very similar."

To Gonzalez, "the big story is the growth of independents."

Democratic pollster Andre Pineda, who is advising New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's presidential campaign, conducted research after the November 2006 elections that identified a generational shift in Hispanic voter patterns.

Pineda said Hispanic immigrants who become citizens and register to vote become Democrats in nearly 70 percent of the cases, with Republican registration at 18 percent. In the next generation, Democratic registration drops to 56 percent and GOP registration increases to 25 percent. By the third U.S.-born generation, Democratic and Republican registration among Hispanics is nearly equal.

While newer arrivals to the United States feel more strongly about immigration issues, subsequent generations share the concerns of Main Street America — the war, taxes, education, crime, he said.

"We need to ... make our case on those issues, otherwise we are going to lose them," Pineda said.

GOP polling in the California governor's race last year found that college-educated Hispanics who make more than $60,000 a year are more receptive to Republican ideas than are those with less education and income.

Such findings are mirrored in the experience of Angel Sanchez. The 35-year-old Riverside banker grew up in a home with deep Hispanic roots — he was taught to trust the Roman Catholic church, work hard — and on election day, to vote Democratic.

But as a young man he registered as a Republican, drawn to the party's messages on limited government, law and order and national defense. His parents reacted as if he'd broken faith.

"They thought almost to the point I was being foolish," recalled Sanchez, who's now active in Republican politics. He says the party is doing a better job of reaching out to Hispanics and now counts his parents among the converts.

Republican media consultant Frank Guerra, who worked on Mr. Bush's campaigns, said Hispanics are becoming more discerning in political choices as well as consumer purchasing.

"They are not just going to give away their vote anymore," Guerra said. "We were deeply brand-loyal. It's changing."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/09/...in3153794.shtml

[Dr_LHA 3]

And people wonder why Bush is so keen on an Amnesty.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

thanks for posting an article showing how hispanics DO integrate into the america society.

as for hispanics going repub.... i've always said that the repub philosophy is closer to how a lot of hispanics think. but them dayum xenophobe extremists in the party make it unbearable to join.

Daniel

:energetic:

[GaryC 7]

And people wonder why Bush is so keen on an Amnesty.

In reality the legal Hispanics are not in favor of illegal immigration. (no link but I remember a poll somewhere) Since only citizens can vote pandering to the illegals and granting amnesty does not make sense.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

And people wonder why Bush is so keen on an Amnesty.

In reality the legal Hispanics are not in favor of illegal immigration. (no link but I remember a poll somewhere) Since only citizens can vote pandering to the illegals and granting amnesty does not make sense.

Gary,

I don't think anyone is FOR illegal immigrations. The diference is on how to deal with the situation.

And you are correct, it is wrong to say that the politicians in favor of immigration reform that gives one ounce of gain to the illegal immigrants are pandering for votes. Way too simplistic.

Daniel

:energetic:

[almaty 19]

:energetic: well stated daniel-san

[Dr_LHA 3]

And people wonder why Bush is so keen on an Amnesty.

In reality the legal Hispanics are not in favor of illegal immigration. (no link but I remember a poll somewhere) Since only citizens can vote pandering to the illegals and granting amnesty does not make sense.

Like it or not Gary, an Amnesty and Worker program would be seen as a pro-hispanic move. Hispanics might not be in favour of illegal aliens, but they will be in favour of making the path for more hispanics into the USA legally easier.

[GaryC 7]

And people wonder why Bush is so keen on an Amnesty.

In reality the legal Hispanics are not in favor of illegal immigration. (no link but I remember a poll somewhere) Since only citizens can vote pandering to the illegals and granting amnesty does not make sense.

Like it or not Gary, an Amnesty and Worker program would be seen as a pro-hispanic move. Hispanics might not be in favour of illegal aliens, but they will be in favour of making the path for more hispanics into the USA legally easier.

So why the shift to the GOP?

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

And people wonder why Bush is so keen on an Amnesty.

In reality the legal Hispanics are not in favor of illegal immigration. (no link but I remember a poll somewhere) Since only citizens can vote pandering to the illegals and granting amnesty does not make sense.

Like it or not Gary, an Amnesty and Worker program would be seen as a pro-hispanic move. Hispanics might not be in favour of illegal aliens, but they will be in favour of making the path for more hispanics into the USA legally easier.

So why the shift to the GOP?

*ahem* read it as part of the integration process of hspanics into the american society. the article points out how more and more ppl are becoming independants. hispanics are doing like so. some are joining the GOP. Back in my univ days I even knew such a hispanic.

Daniel

:energetic:

[Dr_LHA 3]

And people wonder why Bush is so keen on an Amnesty.

In reality the legal Hispanics are not in favor of illegal immigration. (no link but I remember a poll somewhere) Since only citizens can vote pandering to the illegals and granting amnesty does not make sense.

Like it or not Gary, an Amnesty and Worker program would be seen as a pro-hispanic move. Hispanics might not be in favour of illegal aliens, but they will be in favour of making the path for more hispanics into the USA legally easier.

So why the shift to the GOP?

The shift seen I doubt is caused by immigration issues, I was simply saying that if Bush had pushed through the Amnesty, I would expect to see the shift to the GOP in Hispanics become even greater.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

And people wonder why Bush is so keen on an Amnesty.

In reality the legal Hispanics are not in favor of illegal immigration. (no link but I remember a poll somewhere) Since only citizens can vote pandering to the illegals and granting amnesty does not make sense.

Like it or not Gary, an Amnesty and Worker program would be seen as a pro-hispanic move. Hispanics might not be in favour of illegal aliens, but they will be in favour of making the path for more hispanics into the USA legally easier.

So why the shift to the GOP?

The shift seen I doubt is caused by immigration issues, I was simply saying that if Bush had pushed through the Amnesty, I would expect to see the shift to the GOP in Hispanics become even greater.

ie, the stamping out of the extremists of the party in order to get something working.

it ain't cool trying to join a team that has members that don't want you.

Daniel

:eneretic:

[Sheriff Uling 3]

And people wonder why Bush is so keen on an Amnesty.

Hahahaha!!! I clearly see your point...

[GaryC 7]

And people wonder why Bush is so keen on an Amnesty.

In reality the legal Hispanics are not in favor of illegal immigration. (no link but I remember a poll somewhere) Since only citizens can vote pandering to the illegals and granting amnesty does not make sense.

Like it or not Gary, an Amnesty and Worker program would be seen as a pro-hispanic move. Hispanics might not be in favour of illegal aliens, but they will be in favour of making the path for more hispanics into the USA legally easier.

So why the shift to the GOP?

The shift seen I doubt is caused by immigration issues, I was simply saying that if Bush had pushed through the Amnesty, I would expect to see the shift to the GOP in Hispanics become even greater.

Since the shift started in the 90's I doubt if the amnesty bill had nothing to do with it. In fact it seems the first amnesty and the shift away from the dems may have had some correlation.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

i must be on ignore.

Daniel

:energetic:

[Dr_LHA 3]

And people wonder why Bush is so keen on an Amnesty.

Hahahaha!!! I clearly see your point...

Err.....OK...thanks?