For Immediate Release: Contact: Paco Fabián,
November 4, 2008 202-463-8602 x305
With its unprecedented size and level of political engagement this cycle, the Latino vote has grown into one of the most important voting blocs to monitor on Election Day. Here are some key numbers related to the Latino vote to keep in mind when monitoring tonight’s election returns:
1.6 Million: The Latino vote is expected to increase from 7.6 million in 2004 to 9.2 million this year – an increase of 1.6 million.
- 8%: In 2004, Latinos represented approximately 8% of the overall U.S. electorate – a percentage that is expected to be higher in 2008.
- 44% or 21%: Will John McCain’s level of Latino support be closer to the 44% received by George W. Bush in 2004 (the high-water mark for Latino support of GOP) or the 21% Latino support received by Bob Dole in 1996 (the GOP’s low-water mark).
- 32.4%, 11.4%, and 9.9%: Latinos make up 32.4% of registered voters in New Mexico, 11.4% in Nevada and 9.9% in Colorado – key Southwestern battleground states in which both presidential campaigns have targeted the Latino vote.
- 16: The number of states in which the size of the “New Americans” voting bloc, defined as immigrant citizens and the US-born children of immigrants, exceeds the 2004 victory margins in the presidential race – Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
- 500,463: The number of new citizen voters registered by the We Are America Alliance in 13 states with large Latino and immigrant populations.
- 90%: A recent poll from the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund found “tremendous enthusiasm” among Latino voters in the key battleground states of CO, FL, NV, and NM, as nearly 90% of Latino voters say they will vote in this year’s presidential election.
- 93% and 82.8%: The Pew Hispanic Center recently found that 93% of Latino respondents in a nationwide poll said that immigration was important to them personally. Similarly, 82.8% of Latino Evangelical respondents in a new poll said that a candidate’s position on immigration was important in determining their vote – a percentage on par in importance with abortion, and more important than same-sex marriage, among this conservative voting bloc (60% of whom supported Bush in 2004).
Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, and Paco Fabián, Communications Director, are both available to provide on the record comment regarding election results. To schedule an interview, please contact Paco Fabián at (202) 412-9969.
America’s Voice — Harnessing the power of American voices and American values to win common sense immigration reform.
http://www.AmericasVoiceOnline.org
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