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CommentsLatino voters help power wins by Clinton, McCain in Arizona Super Tuesday
Contests between Democrats and Republicans run close in state primary.
By Ruben Hernandez
Latina voters helped to push Hillary Clinton to a win in Arizona on Super Tuesday, 51 percent to 42 percent for Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primary.
Republican presidential candidate and state favorite son John McCain took Arizona as expected, but got surprisingly strong competition from former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. McCain beat Romney, his closest competition, 47 percent to 34 percent.
Erlinda Torres, head of Celebrate Latinas, an organization that promotes leadership among Latinas, says Latina support for Clinton was substantial in Arizona, where registered Latinos comprise 17 percent of total registered voters. Torres also is a member of the state Clinton campaign committee, along with ASU professor and former NCLR head Raul Yzaguirre, Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, and state representative Ben Miranda.
“Her experience, leadership and commitment is a strong appeal, particularly to our community. As a mother and leader, she walks the walk.”
Torres adds that Hillary Clinton’s stance on immigration resonates with Democratic Latinos.
Clinton has said she will work for legislation that strengthens our borders, institute penalties for employers who exploit illegal immigrants, and build a system that will allow citizenship for undocumented workers.
“It certainly is a good beginning. There is no way that this country is going to ship out 12 million (undocumented) Latinos.”
State Representative Krysten Sinema backed Obama. She switched her vote from former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson when he dropped out of the presidential race 3 weeks ago after dismal showings in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries. Gov. Janet Napolitano and Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva also endorsed Obama.
“Obama has done considerable work to close the gap with Latinos in Arizona and New Mexico,” Sinema says. “He got it down from 17 points to about 9 points now.”
She adds, “Latinos are just starting to know Obama. They didn’t know much about him a few months ago. His stand on immigration is flimsy, but the upcoming months will give him a chance to start talking about that. I think he will do better in Latino communities in Arizona and in Texas.”
In the state Republican primary, Sen. John McCain took Arizona, but Mormon Republican voters supported Romney (a Mormon), as well as state Republicans who feel that McCain is out of step with conservatives who advocate “get tough” policies with undocumented workers.
Jose Esparza is a founder of the Arizona Latino Republican Association. He says that McCain will get a sizable percentage of the Latino vote because the Arizona senior senator stands connect with Latinos.
“The values that McCain holds dear are the same vales that are important to the Latino community,” he says. “He’s strong on the war on terror. He’s a fiscal conservative. On the economy he knows that more money in the pocket means Latinos will have more money to start businesses. I think he is the best choice to beat Clinton or Obama.”
“He’s been a leader on immigration reform, for secure borders at the same time developing some sort of system to deal with those who are here illegally. He’s going to strive to get that done. I think Latinos are going to vote for him in droves,” Esparza says.
A recent poll before Super Tuesday by New American Dimensionsshowed Clinton performed much better with Hispanic immigrants than Hispanics born in the United States. She outpolled Obama 70 percent to 12 percent among immigrants compared to 53 percent to 27 percent among U.S. born Hispanics. Two-thirds of those interviewed were immigrants.
Obama came in stronger among younger and more affluent Hispanics, 33 percent of those 18-34 indicated an Obama vote, compared to only 22 percent of those age 35-49 and 12 percent of those 50 and over. 21 percent of Hispanics with a household income over $50k indicated they planned to vote for the Illinois senator compared to only 14 percent of those with incomes less than that amount.
A recent poll before Super Tuesday by New American Dimensionsshowed Clinton performed much better with Hispanic immigrants than Hispanics born in the United States. She outpolled Obama 70 percent to 12 percent among immigrants compared to 53 percent to 27 percent among U.S. born Hispanics. Two-thirds of those interviewed were immigrants.
Obama came in stronger among younger and more affluent Hispanics, 33 percent of those 18-34 indicated an Obama vote, compared to only 22 percent of those age 35-49 and 12 percent of those 50 and over. 21 percent of Hispanics with a household income over $50k indicated they planned to vote for the Illinois senator compared to only 14 percent of those with incomes less than that amount.
Related articles:
Arizona Democrats back Clinton – Arizona Republic
Polls show strong Latino support for Clinton – CandidatoUSA.com
Latino voters power Clinton’s California victory – CandidatoUSA.com
How race, gender, issues played out – Associated Press
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/223837
