Latinos in California Do Not Approve of Schwarzenegger; However, Only 37% Think that Phil Angelides Will Win; a Super-Majority Disapproves of the War in Iraq

“On the eve of the election, a large majority of Latinos in California do not approve of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and they also think that the state is going in the wrong direction, according to a study by Garcia Research Associates, Inc.

Four days before the election, 64% of the Latino respondents, including citizens and non-citizens, disapprove of the job Schwarzenegger is doing as Governor, and 54% of Latinos say that they do not agree with how things are going in California. Also, 59% have a negative opinion about how things are going in the US overall.

On the war in Iraq, Latinos in California express even stronger discontent with the war than has been seen in national polls — 84% of the respondents do not think the war in Iraq was worth the costs. Despite the heat on this issue, for Latinos in California, the topic of immigration is more important that any other topic — 51% say it is the most important issue facing Latinos with education coming in second at 28%.

On the issue of who Latinos think will win the governor’s race, Angelides and Schwarzenegger are nearly tied with 37% and 34% respectively, with 29% unwilling or unable to guess the outcome.

“It seems star power doesn’t carry the way with Latinos, they prefer policies and actions that impact on their communities and their lives” said Carlos E. Garcia, president of Garcia Research. “Latinos in California are not swayed by Mr. Schwarzenegger. If he wants to appeal to the third of California that is Latino, actions will speak louder than words.”

Concerning the various marches for immigrant rights that took place in March and May, 46% of the interviewed Latinos said they were useful, while 34% think that the marches have not helped the pro-immigrant movement.

“The study not only shows similarities but differences among Latinos and the rest of the population,” said Carlos Rajo, political analyst and consultant for Garcia Research Associates, Inc. “For example, over the war in Iraq, Latinos show their disappointment with how the Bush administration has managed the conflict, yet the topic is not their highest priority. Immigration is the most important topic for Latinos.”

The study was conducted on Nov. 1st and 2nd via telephone among 194 Latino residents of the major metropolitan areas of California, including citizens and non-citizens.

Garcia Research Associates, Inc is a Hispanic owned and operated company in Burbank, California specializing in US Hispanic research. “

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