Latino Vote Up For Grabs on February 5Randy Shawbyline‚ Jan. 29‚ 2008With her African-American support permanently eroded, Hillary Clinton is looking to white women over 40 and Latinos to help her carry the Super Tuesday primaries in California and other key states. With Latino voters credited for Clinton’s Nevada victory, and polls showing Latinos favoring her over Obama in California by a 59-19 margin, the Clinton camp has reason to be encouraged. But there is more to the Latino voter turnout story than the traditional media suggests. Specifically, much of the gains in Latino turnout have come from union-backed GOTV (get out the vote) operations that will not be operating for Clinton on February 5. In addition, the Kennedy family has a far greater hold on the loyalties of old-guard Latinos, and a strategic use of Obama backer Ted Kennedy could greatly shift the upcoming vote. If turnout by young, pro-Obama Latinos parallels South Carolina’s youth vote and doubles or triples over past years, Clinton’s projected large Latino majorities in California, New York City, Arizona and Colorado could be erased. |