The Latino vote counted
Obama would not have been re-elected without the overwhelming support of these voters
In case there was any doubt about the impact of the Latino vote, let’s just look at the details of President Obama’s victory. Without the backing of this electorate, the president would not have been re-elected. As simple as that.
For example, thanks to Latinos, the states of Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado are now part of the Democrat’s map to reach the number of Electoral College votes needed. In Virginia, Hispanics are making a difference in a tight race like Tuesday’s, while Florida is no longer anywhere near being the stronghold of Republican Latinos of the past.
As an electorate, Latinos share the top concerns of other voters, jobs and the economy, in their case followed by immigration, education and health care. It was exactly these issues that showed the most differences between Obama and GOP candidate Mitt Romneyand combined, they led to a Democratic victory.
Of course, Republicans did their part, driving Latino voters away with extremist positions. Especially on immigration, where even the human condition of undocumented immigrants was openly mocked and their presence scorned.
As a result, Latino voters on Tuesday got back at a Republican Party that refuses to recognize how significant this electorate is to its possibilities of winning the White House. George W. Bush got 44% of the Latino vote in 2004 and John McCain got 31% of it in 2008, but Romney only got 23%.
This election showed a more sophisticated Latino voter who does not wait until the last minute to vote. The polls show many Latinos voted early, which requires candidates to work harder.
The question is whether the GOP understands that it should adapt how its message is communicated, and in part also the content, to recover the ground lost among Hispanics. Passing comprehensive immigration reform in Congress can be a good step in that direction.
Obama owes Latinos a debt. We hope that the White House proposes an immigration bill and that GOP lawmakers take the opportunity to earn brownie points with the Latino community with a reasonable, positive law.
The result of this election can be read in many ways. One of them is that the Latino vote can’t be ignored if you want to reach the White House.
