Hispanics are returning to Democrats for 2008

[William769]

SAN ANTONIO — Like no Republican before him, George W. Bush drew Hispanics to the GOP.

In the 2004 election, at least 40% of the voters in the nation's largest and fastest-growing minority group backed Bush, double the share of Hispanics who had supported Republican Bob Dole eight years earlier. But the inroads Bush made are vanishing.

The chief beneficiary for 2008 so far is Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.

A new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll indicates that Hispanics, by nearly 3 to 1, say they're Democrats or lean that way. Of those, 59% support the New York senator over her presidential rivals — her strongest showing among any major demographic group and a huge potential asset for early contests in Nevada, Florida, California and other states with large Hispanic populations.

One big factor behind the flight from the GOP: a heated debate over immigration in which congressional Republicans' remarks on illegal immigrants have offended many Hispanic voters. The fallout from that battle, shifting Latino loyalties and a changing political calendar have scrambled political calculations made about Hispanics after the last presidential election — and raised the stakes for their role in choosing the Democratic nominee for the next one.

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070628/1a_cover28.art.htm

[William769]

1. Kick for Hispanics.

:kick:

[Forkboy]

2. The immigration issue is killing the Repubs.

Remember when the issue first came up a couple years ago and the Hispanic community had the one day general strike to protest? I live in central Mass,not a place you'd really equate with the issue,though we do have a lot of immigrants,but it's not on the border hot zone so to speak.Anyways,I was downtown that day and there was a parade with at least 200 - 300 people marching in protest.I knew at that moment that the Repubs had bitten off way more than they can chew with this one.

[William769]

3. I live in Florida, and although the Cuban vote is still pretty much Republican.

We are getting a large Hispanic bloc from South America (legally I might add), and it's safe to assume that if Bush was on fire they would not piss on him to put it out.

[Forkboy]

4. LOL

My bladder might seize up under those circumstances too.