Unprecedented Latino Voter Turnout Plays Critical Role in Early Outcome of the Presidential Election – MarketWatch

Latino voters reshape the American electorate
Early exit poll data suggest that Latino voters had a significant impact on the Presidential race in key states, according to an Election Day analysis conducted by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. The NALEO Educational Fund has projected that at least 9.2 million Latinos would vote in this election, and early results indicate that Latino voter turnout is likely to be higher.
Based on media reports of election results with over 95% of precincts reporting, the NALEO Educational Fund analysis reveals that Latinos contributed to Senator Barack Obama’s narrow victories in Virginia and Florida. In Virginia, where the reported margin of victory as of this writing was 120,299, the NALEO Educational Fund estimates that about 67,000 Latinos voted for Senator Obama. In Florida, where the reported margin of victory as of this writing was 178,745, the NALEO Educational Fund’s analysis estimates that about 548,000 Latinos voted for Senator Obama.
According to NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director Arturo Vargas, “In 2004, President George W. Bush gained victories in Virginia and Florida. Four years later, Latino voters have helped transform these states into ‘purple’ ones, where party loyalties will become less predictable. Latinos are reshaping the future of the political landscape.”
Unprecedented efforts were made by both political parties and candidates to court the Latino vote in this election cycle. In battleground states, there was record spending on Spanish language media and ground efforts to persuade and mobilize the Latino electorate. At the same time, non-partisan efforts, like the Aiya es hora! Ve y Vota Campaign (It’s time, go vote), have been informing and motivating Latinos to participate in civic life. The Aiya es hora! campaign is an historic non-partisan campaign that was launched as the Latino community’s action-oriented follow-up to the mobilizations of 2006. It is the largest and most comprehensive effort to incorporate Latinos as full participants in the American political process.
Mr. Vargas concluded, “We are likely to see record Latino turnout in this Presidential election, and Latinos are playing a key role in determining its outcome. The dramatic increase in Latino participation will extend far beyond 2008 and will have a significant impact on future state and local races. This is an historic election for our nation, and Latinos are writing the next chapter of America’s political history. ”
About the NALEO Educational Fund
The NALEO Educational Fund is the leading organization that empowers Latinos to participate fully in the American political process, from citizenship to public service. The NALEO Educational Fund is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization whose constituency includes nearly 6,000 Latino elected and appointed officials nationwide.
Contact: Eric Wagner, ewagner@naleo.org
(213) 747-7606, ext. 127, Cell: (323) 683-9295 “

• Obama answers top Cuban blogger – Yoani Sanchez
• Eleventh-hour criticism is arising over President Obama’s nomination for United States attorney in northern Iowa of a prosecutor who had a leading role in the criminal cases against hundreds of illegal immigrants arrested in a May 2008 raid at a meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa. – Stephanie Rose
• Think you’re obsessed with President Barack Obama and the many challenges he faces at home and abroad? – Well, you’re not alone. – Fidel Castro appears to have a fascination with the American leader that would make Obama Girl jealous, writing obsessively not only about his politics, but of his youth and vigor.
• Poll: 41 percent say Obama has not improved race relations
• Obama and the White House in Spanish
• Obama, en esfuerzo bilingüe, busca votos latinos en New Jersey y Virginia
• Obama’s Dirty War On Immigrants
• RNC unveils Spanish ad questioning Obama, Biden trips to Florida
• Reforma Migratoria: “Sin movilización no ganamos esta batalla”: Congresista Gutiérrez
• VÍDEO- Obama baila “Amor a la mexicana” con Thalía
• Obamas Throw A ‘Fiesta’ Mas Fina
• Obama celebrates Spain and Hispanic music
• Hispanos ponen a bailar a Obama en la Casa Blanca
• Obama Hosts Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Celebrates Latin Music On Tuesday
• Seneca returns with observations about President Obama and Latinos – (interesting)
• PRESIDENT AND MRS. OBAMA HOST ‘IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE: FIESTA LATINA’ DURING NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH — PBS Music Special to Feature Latino Performers Marc Anthony, Jimmy Smits, George Lopez, Gloria Estefan and More, Airs October 15
• Obama and DeMint locked in proxy fight over Hugo Chavez – DeMint has blocked the appt. of Arturo Valenzuela, the choice for the post of assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.
• Businessman activist Cid Wilson (only Dominican in the group) has proudly set to work on the task given him by President Barack Obama, which is to plan together with other prominent leaders the creation of the National Museum of the American Latino.
• 6 Months from Census, Coalition to Announce Details of Campaign to Count All Latinos in 2010 – Labor Leaders, Elected Officials, Latino Groups, Spanish Language Media and Faith-Based Organizations Join Forces to Ensure Census Achieves Accurate Count of Second-Largest U.S. Population Group
• Obama explains why he used the term “illegal immigrant”