A Florida Question: Can Republicans Capture Latinos

In the National polls concerning Latinos, it doesn’t look good for Mitt or Newt or the rest:

Washington Post national poll, December 28, 2011:

Obama 68
Romney 23

ImpreMedia/Latino Decisions, 9/30-10/9:

Obama 61
Generic Republican 17

PPP, 9/30:

Obama 67
Romney 29

Latinos are, in general,  disappointed in the lack of progress on immigration reform. But they saw who voted against the DREAM Act in Congress (Republicans), and they see who is still campaigning against the DREAM Act (Republicans). They see who is demagoguing Mexico and kowtowing to the notorious Latino-hating Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio (Republicans), and they see who is passing anti-immigrant laws in places like Arizona and Alabama (oh yes, Republicans).

Romney wants to make things so miserable for undocumented immigrants that they “self-deport,” according to speeches he has made in the primaries. Not a popular position among Latinos.

Then there was the straight attack on Cuba in the last debate. Cuban Republicans are a strong Latino group in Florida, but, like many Americans, they wonder if, after 50 years of maintaining the Cuba boycott, we might like to try something else.

Guess we wait and see. Tuesday is the Florida Primary.

Related articles

• Senior Republicans: don’t alienate Latino voters with immigration attacks (guardian.co.uk)
• GOP, don’t blow it with Florida’s Latinos (cnn.com)
• ‘Soccer mamis’ could sway Florida race, affect general election (cnn.com)
• Poll: Romney Dominating Gingrich Among Florida Latino Voters (miami.cbslocal.com)
• Latino group to challenge Rubio as GOP courts him (sfgate.com)
• Obama courts Latino vote on economic tour (ajc.com)
• Obama’s Latino Arizona Strategy (thedailybeast.com)