Obama appears likely to capture important bloc in a landslide

Politico Oct 10, 08 1:42 PM CDT
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With a record of immigration reform, John McCain once appeared a near-lock for the Hispanic vote—but the bloc is instead turning to Barack Obama, Politico reports. McCain is hovering around 26%, nowhere near Bush's historic 40% in the last election. Not only is McCain not getting credit for his prior support of reform, he's being associated with the GOP's general anti-immigration sentiment, thanks in part to Democratic ads.
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Party boasts strong voter registration, turnout in Mountain states

Politico Aug 29, 08 12:54 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The Mountain West has historically gone for the GOP, but thanks to aggressive grass-roots organizing, Democrats believe they have a shot at turning red states blue, Politico reports. More field offices, opened much earlier than the GOP's, have boosted registration in Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada. “This presidential cycle is different,” says the head of New Mexico’s Democratic Party. “The ground game is completely different.”
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Group sets out to register the poor

Wall Street Journal Jul 31, 08 9:36 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Nestled in the housing bill President Bush signed yesterday is an acronym Republicans don’t like one bit: ACORN. The Wall Street Journal reports that the group is among the many housing-related nonprofits the bill hands cash to, but Republicans grumble that it does more than housing. It’s also co-managing a $15.9 million voter registration campaign aimed at low-income Hispanics and African Americans–in other words, likely Democratic voters.
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Obama and McCain both pushing wrong message, nonpartisan group says

St. Petersburg Times (Russia) Jul 22, 08 2:36 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Hispanics could swing the presidential election in November, especially in crucial Florida, but the presumptive nominees aren’t reaching them, the St. Petersburg Times reports. Hispanics tend to vote on issues rather than along strictly party lines, but the media and candidates are pushing immigration reform though polls show the economy and education atop their list of concerns—with immigration reform 10th.
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Candidates make their cases before key constituency

Associated Press Jul 8, 08 8:20 PM CDT
(AP)
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John McCain and Barack Obama each reached out to the critical constituency of Hispanic voters today. The rivals pressed anew their support for comprehensive immigration reform in separate speeches to the League of United Latin American Citizens. But each candidate was primarily focused on making the case that he—not his opponent—could best lead the country out of economic straits and help the middle class achieve prosperity.
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ANALYSIS
They don't want Spanish-language ads—and they will vote for a black guy

Newsweek Jun 30, 08 3:07 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Pundits are way off on Hispanic voters, writes Arian Campo-Flores in Newsweek . Four common misconceptions: Immigration is everything. A recent survey showed that education, health care, the economy, and crime were more important in the demographic. Recent immigrants are most likely to care about immigration—and least likely to be voters.
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analysis
A step for diversity, all agree, but will he show minorities the love?

New America Media Jun 6, 08 3:12 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Ethnic media outlets are lauding Barack Obama's victory as a step for all minorities, but they're also holding him at arm’s length, waiting for personal attention. “The White House may not be a house for whites anymore,” said Korea Daily . Indeed, American minorities say glass ceilings broken by one group spur progress for the rest, New American Media reports.
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Colo., Nev., and NM, barely lost by Kerry, seen as key to a Dem win this time

Politico May 27, 08 12:15 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Barack Obama is touring the Mountain West, Politico reports, territory advisers believe could be crucial in the general election. At stake are Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada, states George Bush won by small margins in 2004—and in which the GOP has since lost popularity, especially on immigration and among Hispanics.
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High birth rate a big
asset to the economy as workforce ages

Wall Street Journal May 1, 08 1:45 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The US Hispanic population is booming, driven more by a high birth rate among those already in the country than immigration, the Census Bureau says. Since 2000, Latinos have jumped from 12.6% to more than 15% of the total population—swelling their numbers to 45.5 million from 35.7 million. "If you close the borders tomorrow, there is still going to be a large Hispanic increase," a demographer tells the Wall Street Journal.
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Analysis
Breaking down the groups that will decide the election

Wall Street Journal Apr 22, 08 11:29 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Some of the election season’s most intriguing demographics will be out in force in today’s Pennsylvania primary. The Wall Street Journal breaks down who they are and how they might vote in November. Working-class white males mostly went red in 2006, supporting Republicans by a 14-point margin. Increased economic worries could swing some, but will they cross gender or racial lines?
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Clinton, Obama clash over who's winning, whose November appeal is broader

New York Times Mar 12, 08 11:27 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both say they're winning the Democratic nomination race, of course, but each backs it up differently. Obama points to a lead in delegates overall, pledged delegates, and popular vote. Clinton claims important groups like women, blue-collar workers, and Latinos—and so-called "big states" like California and Ohio—are in her column, the New York Times reports.
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Clinton's Hispanic-Catholic base may prove key in coming contests

Politico Mar 2, 08 10:24 AM CST
(Newser)
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Barack Obama's poor primary showings with Catholic voters could become more problematic in Catholic-heavy states like Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, Politico reports. Despite Obama's string of victories, Hillary Clinton has consistently grabbed a large percentage of Catholics, in part due to her popularity with majority-Catholic Hispanics. Analysts and Catholic politicians agree there's no singular reason that explains the coolness to Obama.
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Minorities don't always vote for minority candidates

New York Times Mar 2, 08 7:08 AM CST
(Newser)
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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.
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Female, Hispanic voters stick with Clinton

Reuters Feb 29, 08 12:53 PM CST
(Newser)
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Ahead of Tuesday’s crucial primaries, Barack Obama leads Hillary Clinton in Texas, 48% to 42%, and trails in Ohio, 44% to 42%, Reuters reports. “All the momentum is with Obama,” said pollster John Zogby. “The question is whether she can stem the tide.” In Ohio, Clinton retains strong leads among women, older voters, Democrats, Catholics, and union members.
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