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Hispanic support for Obama in Florida tapering off

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
January 28th, 2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The gulf between U.S. President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign promises and what he has actually accomplished while in office is highly apparent in the state of Florida. Only 46 percent of Hispanic voters in the Sunshine State support the Commander-in-Chief for re-election against an unnamed Republican opponent. That's in deep contrast to the 57 percent when Obama ran four years ago.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to a new poll, Hispanics are a key voting bloc in Florida as well as other swing states. The president and his Republican challenger will be sure to court these voters as the general election approaches with vigor.

As tallied by the Hispanic Leadership Network, co-sponsoring this week's Republican presidential debate, the survey also showed that six in 10 Hispanic voters say the country is on the wrong track.

The same ratio believes that the President has not delivered on his 2008 promises, with 51 percent disapproving of Obama's handling of the economy. That's very bad news for the President, who won 67 percent of the Latino vote nationwide in 2008.

The Hispanic vote could play a significant role in Tuesday's Florida GOP primary, as about one in 10 GOP voters are Hispanic. Republican frontrunners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have been airing radio ads in Spanish, and both are seeking key endorsements from Hispanic leaders. Both Romney and Gingrich denounced his rival's immigration policies Wednesday.

Gingrich criticized Romney's strangely-worded "self-deportation" proposal - in which illegal immigrants would leave if the country on their own if they're unable to find work - calling it an "Obama-level fantasy." Romney hit back, insisting the former House Speaker supported the same policy in the past.

In addition, a new Univison/ABC News poll shows likely Latino voters in the Jan. 31 Florida GOP primary favor Romney over Gingrich, 49 percent to 23 percent. A sizable number, 20 percent remaining undecided, leaving some hope for Gingrich.

Romney has strong support among Cuban-Americans, leading Gingrich 49 percent to 17 percent in that group.

As for Puerto Ricans, the second largest group among Florida Latinos, Romney has a smaller lead over Gingrich 22 percent to 12 percent.

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Article brought to you by: Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)