Immigration News & Opinion
Sat - May 19, 2012

Fox News Latino, January 30. As Republican presidential candidates battle for the Latino vote in Florida, President Barack Obama's campaign released a memo predicting that he would win the Hispanic support by something verging on a record margin. In a memo to reporters Monday, Obama for America said Republicans have “sealed the political fate of their party with the Hispanic electorate” because of their “extreme rhetoric on immigration.” “It is … clear from polling that the positions the Republican candidates have taken on the issues most important to the Hispanic community are directly at odds with Hispanic voters,” said the memo, written by pollster Sergio Bendixen and 'Obama for America' spokeswoman Gabriela Domenzain. “The speeches and policy statements of both Romney and Gingrich on issues like the economy, the creation of jobs, health care, public education, housing, programs for seniors, and immigration are deeply unpopular with most Hispanics.” Latinos have become an increasingly important voting bloc, particularly in swing states where their support could tip the general election. The 2010 Census showed that the Hispanic population grew to 50.5 million in 2010 from 35.3 million in 2000. About 21 million are eligible to vote.