Democrats try to energize Hispanic voters to help candidates in congressional, state races
WASHINGTON — Hispanics could be the key block of voters in several close races Tuesday. But whether they turn out to vote is another matter.
Arturo Vargas, executive director of the bipartisan National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, said Hispanics have the potential to swing several gubernatorial and congressional races.
Turnout remains a question, however. A Pew Hispanic Center poll of Latino voters last month found that they were far less likely to vote than non-Hispanic voters. More than two-thirds of those who expect to vote planned to support the Democratic candidate in their district, the survey found.
Vargas is projecting 6.5 million Latinos will vote this year, up from 5.6 million in the 2006 midterms. The Census Bureau estimates that 9.7 million Latinos voted in 2008.
"It's not just where Latinos are running that Latinos will make a difference, but in states with major contests among non-Latinos," said Vargas, whose group tracks the Latino vote.
Reps. Loretta Sanchez's district in Southern California and Ciro Rodriguez's district in Texas have a big Hispanic voter base, but their jobs also hang on how many Latinos turn out.
Unlike the last midterm election in 2006, states with large Hispanic populations also are host to some of the most competitive races this year. That works in Democrats' favour, contends Andres Ramirez, vice-president of the New Democratic Network, a liberal advocacy and research group.
He cited California, Texas and Nevada, where Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has courted Latinos with Spanish language ads and a failed effort to get a Senate vote on giving young Hispanics in the U.S. a chance at citizenship.
Reid's race with conservative tea party favourite Sharron Angle is a tossup. Hispanic groups have protested how some of Angle's mailings and ads have portrayed Hispanics and the illegal immigration issue. Reid also has tried to capitalize on her comment earlier this month to a group of Hispanic high school students that "some of you look a little more Asian to me."
Republicans expect to cut into the Latino vote with Hispanic candidates of their own.
Despite his tough views on illegal immigration, former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio has a strong lead over Republican-turned-independent Charlie Crist and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek in the race for a Senate seat in Florida.
In New Mexico, where a third of the registered voters are Hispanic, Republican Susana Martinez stands a good chance of becoming the nation's first elected Latina governor.
The Republicans also look to Hispanic candidates Bill Flores to take away veteran Democratic Rep. Chet Edwards' seat in Texas and Jon Barela to defeat freshman Rep. Martin Heinrich in New Mexico.