The Arizona senator's campaign launched a Spanish language
Web site to mark the Mexican Cinco de Mayo festival and McCain
told reporters that "everything about our Hispanic voters is
tailor-made to the Republican message."
"I am confident that I will do very well," he said. "I know
their patriotism, I know the respect for the family, the
advocacy for pro-life, I know the small business aspect of our
Hispanic voters."
Hispanic support for the Republican Party has ebbed in
recent months, following a bruising battle over illegal
immigration.
Republican lawmakers sank a comprehensive immigration bill
last June that would have created a path to citizenship for
many of the 12 million mostly Hispanic illegal immigrants
living in the shadows in the United States.
McCain's support for a broad immigration overhaul that
would also have put some illegal workers on a path toward U.S.
citizenship angered many conservatives in his party. He later
said Congress should focus on border security first.
A report by the Pew Hispanic Center in December found that
57 percent of Hispanic registered voters called themselves
Democrats, while just 23 percent considered themselves
Republicans.
That was a 34-point gap in partisan affiliation, compared
with 21 points in July 2006.
The Hispanic vote may prove crucial in November's election
against the Democratic candidate, either Sen. Barack Obama or
Sen. Hillary Clinton, particularly in battleground states such
as California, Florida and Colorado with large Latino
populations.
(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; Editing by John O'Callaghan)
0 comments:
Post a Comment