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Why Don't Latinos Back Barack?

Minorities don't always vote for minority candidates

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 2, 2008 7:08 AM CST
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(Newser) – Hillary Clinton's support in Hispanic communities is well documented, but the voting patterns of Hispanics are not as easy to characterize as her pollsters make them out to be, reports the New York Times. The issue of identity politics is a complicated matter that clearly does not guarantee that all minorities rally behind a minority candidate, and gives a "Rainbow Coalition" all the substance of a cloud.

Some experts attribute Clinton's Hispanic support to her years spent cultivating the community, her ad expenditure on Spanish-language media and Latinos' respect for her husband. Others see another reason for her double-digit lead over Obama among Latino voters. One professor guesses that "about 10% of the Latinos who are voting for Hillary are voting against Obama because he’s African-American.” If Obama wins the nomination, it's not clear if those voters will come around, stay home—or vote Republican.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a rally in Selma, Texas Friday, Feb. 29, 2008. Obama has gained support within the Latino community, but the clear Clinton preference among Hispanics runs deep. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a rally in Selma, Texas Friday, Feb. 29, 2008. Obama has gained support within the Latino community, but the clear Clinton preference among Hispanics runs deep....   (Associated Press)
Roy Montelongo, 11, of Fort Worth, Texas cheers at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., Saturday, March 1, 2008, at the Fort Worth Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas. Hispanic support for Clinton may speak to the underlying force of identity politics. (AP Photo/D....
Roy Montelongo, 11, of Fort Worth, Texas cheers at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., Saturday, March 1, 2008, at the Fort Worth Stockyards in Fort...   (Associated Press)
Poll worker Albert Shaw applies a sticker on the coat of a voter on Super Tuesday in Nashville, Tenn. in this Feb. 5, 2008 file photo. The Democratic presidential race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama has not only coaxed far more people to vote than in the past,...
Poll worker Albert Shaw applies a sticker on the coat of a voter on Super Tuesday in Nashville, Tenn. in this Feb. 5, 2008 file photo. The Democratic presidential race between Hillary Rodham Clinton...   (Associated Press)
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Mexican-American family an example of divided support
Washington Post

Texas Latinos may swing to Obama
Houston Chronicle

Hispanic vote might not have such a big effect
Dallas Morning News

Both candidates campaigning en Espanol
Houston Chronicle

Politics • US

 
Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Texas • Hispanic • minority vote • the Hispanic vote • Rainbow Coalition

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