Big victory, huge challenges

After wining a long, costly and nail-biting re-election race, President Barack Obama has a lot to accomplish in the next four years. He has to strengthen the economy, reduce poverty and support the middle class.

This promise and hope is what persuaded Hispanics nationwide to overwhelmingly support Obama.

An analysis of election will eventually show the exact voter turnout for specific groups. But there’s no doubt that Hispanics influenced the political discorse and ultimately affected the outcome of this election. The results in states like Nevada, Colorado and Florida speak loudly about the growing power of the Latino vote.

The road ahead won’t be easy for the President. After this failure, the GOP machinery, which retains control of the House of Representatives, will set its sights on recovering the White House in 2016. In this climate, Obama is expected to face the same intransigence and obstructionism, if not more, from Republican congressional leaders than he did in the past two years.

Obama must now use his political muscle to fulfill his promises. Some of the main points in his domestic agenda should be a tax cut extension for middle-class families; sensible Medicare and Medicaid reforms; and a consensus to achieve immigration reform, including the Dream Act.

The best candidate won this election. We also understand the challenges ahead and realize that Obama already has his hands full. That’s why it’s critical for Hispanic organizations, community leaders, elected officials and individuals to fight and make sure our needs are a priority of this new Obama administration.

The results of this election is our best argument. Elected officials must take Hispanics seriously.