Alienation Of Hispanic Voters May Prove Critical In 2008

The continued alienation of any goodwill that George Bush created among Hispanic voters could prove critical to the GOP losing the presidency in 2008. George Bush managed to capture a record 44% of the Hispanic vote in 2004, however new polls put the possible 2008 Hispanic vote as low as just 23%. It is the continued overbearing anti-immigrant sentiments of many in the GOP that is backfiring and alienating many Hispanic voters to vote against GOP candidates. In four critical states, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida, all won by Bush in 2004, large Hispanic voter populations could turn the tide to the Democrats in all four states, dooming any GOP hopes of hanging onto the presidency.

Republicans have not tactfully fully dealt with the immigration issue. Instead, they have often handled this issue in a manner that seems more smacking with racism, than actual orderly border security concerns. Hispanic voters are keenly aware of this, and are turning off to the GOP in droves as a result. Maybe losing elections is the only way for a party to wake up to fostering bad positions on issues.