It looks like the debate over immigration helped democrats in the recent election, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Latino voters leaned heavily Democratic in the recent midterm elections, indicating the heated debate over immigration reform may have cost Republicans support in some key races, an analysis released Monday indicates.
A study of exit polls by the Pew Hispanic Center showed 69 percent of Latino voters supported Democrats, up from 58 percent in 2004. That compares with a 6 percentage- point increase in Democratic support among white voters. 'It's about more than just the immigration issue; it's about how some Republicans talk about the issue,' said Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens. 'They left the impression that it wasn't just about immigration but that (the Latino) community was being targeted in the same way the gay community was targeted in 2004.'"
"According to Pew's analysis, Republicans won in eight of the 12 congressional races where Latinos might have affected the outcome because they made up more than 10 percent of the eligible voters. The four districts that went to Democrats included Colorado's closely contested 7th Congressional District, which has 16 percent eligible Latino voters. Democrat Ed Perl mutter won that seat, previously held by Republican Bob Beauprez, with 55 percent of the vote. The National Council of La Raza did an election eve poll and found that 51 percent of likely Latino voters said immigration was the most important issue or one of the most important issues shaping their vote, said Clarissa Martinez, director of state policy and advocacy for the council. In July, the Pew Hispanic Center found the same sentiment."
Meanwhile Colorado Luis offers up his analysis of the recent spate of legislation targeting illegal immigration on SquareState. Mr. Toro writes, "I suppose I should be grateful to the Boulder Daily Camera for their editorial further cementing the emerging conventional wisdom that the anti-immigrant laws passed during the Special Session have proven to be, to use the Camera's words, an 'extraordinary folly.' But there is something missing from the piece -- any acknowledgment of the sinister force that caused otherwise reasonable Democratic legislators to abandon their stated principles and pass a bunch of ill-considered bills. It's called racism, and frankly I have a hard time taking seriously any discussion of the politics of immigration in Colorado that doesn't even mention the word. When you pass a bunch of laws aimed at undocumented immigrants, without knowing the impact (positive or negative) on the state, then by definition you are acting out of prejudice."
Category: 2008 Presidential Election
6:25:17 AM 
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