WHAT’S HAPPENING
- The faltering U.S. financial picture is of great interest to Latinos in the 2008 presidential season.
- In Phoenix, immigration, crime and education are motivating Latino voters. House minority whip Steve Gallardo, however, sees Latinos primarily voting for who is best prepared to deal with the economy (AZCentral.com 9.25.08).
- In Florida, the number of Latino Protestants who consider themselves Democrats rose from 43% to 50% between 2004 and 2008, according to a recent Paul B. Henry Institute report (Sun-Sentinel.com 10.6.08). The probable reason, says University of Florida political science professor Philip Williams, is the economy.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- The same issues that energize and motivate the mainstream community energize and motivate Latino voters as well. With Latinos suffering from job loss and foreclosures, efforts to get out the vote— including direct mail, automated phone pitches and door-to-door outreach — are resonating with a demographic that ordinarily isn’t as well represented in the polls.
RESOURCES
