The New Latino Vote Under Obama

Nov. 7, 2009 -- Democratic outreach to Latino voters helped Barack Obama win Red States in the 2008 election and deepened a rift between that demographic and the Republican Party.

The 2004 "Viva Bush" Latino outreach campaign did not endure amid conservative voices rallying for border fence proposals and slashing health care choices for illegal immigrants.

These conservative attempts to exploit fear about illegal immigration compromised GOP support of Latinos in 2008, according to Robert List, Republican national committeeman for Nevada. List, who was governor of Nevada from 1979 to 1983, told ScoopDaily that the Republican Party needs to learn a lesson from 2008 about Latinos as a growing voter demographic.

"I think the party needs to rethink their approach to illegal immigration," said List. "However many illegal immigrations there are is almost irrelevant — they're here. The border is what it is. The demographic makeup of these border states is going to continue to shift. Texas, Arizona and New Mexico have historically elected Republicans, but they need to recognize that Latinos are going to be majorities in some cases."

Obama for America saw California as a sure win in 2008, so the Golden State's volunteers were sent to neighboring states like Colorado, New Mexico and especially Nevada. With its votes concentrated in the city, Nevada is a case study in then-Sen. Obama's successful 50 state strategy.

According to Gallup Polling data, the majority of Latinos favored Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. Though following his nomination Obama maintained a majority of Latino support in all Gallup Poll subgroups except with those who identified themselves as Republicans.

Obama for America volunteers continued the Democratic voter registration blitz set in motion in 2004 by groups like ACT (America Coming Together), who aimed to mobilize more voters and thereby avoid the close-call and confusion of the 2000 presidential election. People like James Spencer, a precinct captain at the Las Vegas Democratic Office, committed to politics for the first time.

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"All the fear of political campaigning was taken away from me since I felt compelled to act about it," said Spencer. "I spoke to people who wanted to talk and people were surprised that there was so much interest. This really was the awakening of a generation, there were people who came from Iowa and participated in Nevada."

Last year's results deflated some of the cynicism fueled by the 2004 and 2006 elections, namely, accusations of minority voters being turned away or ballots being lost in closely contested districts in Ohio, Virginia and Nevada. Constant phone calls and door visits by tens of thousands of volunteers helped dispel the fears of workin- class Latinos and renewed interest among the younger Hispanic community.

"I believe there was a lot of withholding of votes because of fear," said Spencer. "I feel that they will be a more decisive vote now since they've seen some things broken form the way previously done things. [Latinos] know they have a voice now without the fear of being rejected in previous years pollsters had made them wait a while longer than they had to, trying to discourage them."

There were also voter integrity and registration efforts on state levels. In Nevada voters to go to the polls weeks in advance allowing working class-Latinos to become part of the approximately 50 percent of the state to vote early.

"I think we did a poor job of mobilizing get out the vote since it's clear that increasingly people make their minds up earlier," said List. "I firmly believe that the Latino community has deep commitment to family values and are natural constituents of the GOP. We need to reclaim that voting bloc. I think we can reenergize that effort among Latinos."

Since Gallup Polling indicates half of registered Latino voters are Catholic, Obama's looser stance on abortion rights and gay rights were a divisive topic when approaching Latino voters, Spencer remembers. Yet Gallup Polling in October 2008 shows Obama still gained support of 65 percent of Catholic Latinos as well as 51 percent of Latinos within other Christian sects.

"I think that during this process people have become more open-minded with Obama instead of defining him by what has been put in place by Republicans who want to exploit people's morality with fear tactics on issues like abortion," said Spencer.

"He was saying 'we're going to be protective instead of driving people to do it illegally.' I think registration will increase now since this is the only way their voices will be heard and not."

The 2008 results are giving Nevada's Latinos given greater attention by both parties, since Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid faces re-election in 2010. Republicans chose Brian Sandoval, 46, as their front-runner for governor in an effort to attract the young Latino vote.

"The party is planning a major voter registration drive for Latino communities," List told ScoopDaily. "We have a lot of friends within that community and the GOP is going to put a major push."

With 42 percent of Latinos uninsured nationwide, according to Gallup Polling, the results of health care legislation might play a great factor in how this rejuvenated demographic votes.

"Health care is about taking care of elders and children and I think people will be awakened and realize that this administration has drawn out what people have in their hearts," said Spencer.

"The language on illegal immigration is loosening up and the Obama administration is not trying to capitalize on other people's ignorance as much."

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