Pandering to Hispanics will be a serious mistake for the presumptive Republican nominee. A new Public Policy Poll (PPP) – a self acknowledged Democrat surveying firm – of a large number of Hispanic Florida Colorado and New Mexico respondents provides a clear warning for “What’s His Name” not to pick a Vice Presidential candidate merely based on ethnicity.
The poll results make it very clear that Hispanics should be appealed to on the same grounds as everyone else who realizes we are in danger of losing our country. It found the economy is the number one issue Hispanics will be thinking about as they go to the polls.
In both Colorado and New Mexico, when asked for a reaction to a Hispanic Republican Vice Presidential candidate, Hispanics said they would still vote 2 to 1 for Barack Obama over the presumptive GOP candidate. In Florida, the spread is much closer and probably reflects Hispanic pride in Marco Rubio, but Sunshine State Hispanics would still vote 52/44 for Obama.
Nevertheless, the news for Republicans in regards to the Hispanic vote is not necessarily bad. While there is a shortage of current data on the percentage of Hispanics who are enthusiastic to vote, the best available information (collected last November) shows just 38% of Hispanic voters enthusiastic to vote. Moreover, not only is Hispanic voter enthusiasm down to dangerous levels for Obama; the raw number of Hispanics who are even registered to vote has fallen by some two million just since 2008.
Given the great likelihood of those Hispanics who are enthusiastic to vote being Republican supporters, the best course for the presumptive Republican candidate to follow in regard to Hispanics would be to not add a Hispanic to his ticket unless he/she appeals to a wide spectrum of voters as an acceptable choice strictly on his/her merits.
At this point, we don’t know if a Marco Rubio or anyone else can appeal to voters absent a Hispanic background. That remains to be determined. Until then, no one should be offered the Republican VP spot merely on ethnicity.
Photo Credit : Gage Skidmore (Creative Commons)
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Sure, if he’s RACIST!
“Should Romney Pick A Hispanic VP On Ethnicity Alone?”
No, he should also pick Rubio because he’s ineligible and because he wants to weaken immigration laws.
That is what he should not do. If I were him I would pick Newt Gingrich. He will need a strong VP and he could not find a stronger one than Newt. Does Newt have baggage? You bet, but show any candidate that will not have baggage.
I’d like to see him pick Paul Ryan , who I’m on the way to see @Reagan Library right now! That’s one of the few things that could get me excited about a Romney candidacy.
Romney should pick someone tough like Allen West, a military man, a true Conservative and not pander to the Hispanic vote. We’ve pandered to them so much, for too long, that they feel entitled to everything and now they are pushing Americans out of the vote because of their numbers. Somewhere along the way unfortunately, being complacent has allowed this monster to emerge. And yes, Newt Gingrich has a lot to offer this country, he knows Washington and can get things done, he is a very smart man forgetting his marital dillemas, I feel he would be an asset in some capacity. Romney is a nice man but he has to have someone tough to push the country and the world around in the right direction.
Allahbama was elected because he is “black”. How’s that voting for a race instead of a qualified candidate working out for ya?