‘06 Latino Vote May Spell Trouble for GOP

“The appointment of Florida Sen. Mel Martinez as the new leader of the Republican National Committee in part reflects an acknowledgment by the party of the dramatic shift toward Democrats in Latino voting patterns this year: Although between 40 and 44 percent of Latinos voted for President Bush in 2004, almost 70 percent of Hispanic voters cast their lot for Democrats last week, according to exit polls.

Pollster Simon Rosenberg of the New Democrat Network says the loss of Hispanic support could represent “a game-changing shift for Republicans” heading into the 2008 elections. The apparent trend could be particularly troubling in four states with significant numbers of Latino voters: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. The four, which Bush carried in 2004, have 29 electoral votes.”

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