Pocketbook and Family Issues Top Concerns for Latinos
With only 58 days until a record 21.7 million Latinos are able to cast their vote, Latino registered voters rank pocketbook and family issues as their top concerns, according to a 2011 Pew Hispanic survey.
In 2011, nearly 50 percent of Latinos say the issues of jobs, education and health care are extremely important to them personally. In 2010, 58 percent said that education was extremely important to them, 54 percent cited jobs and 51 percent healthcare.
One-third of Latino registered voters say immigration is extremely important to them, and 34 percent identify the issues of taxes or the federal budget deficit as extremely important.
The survey also showed that 45 percent of Latino registered voters identify the Democratic Party as the better party for Hispanics while 12 percent say the Republican Party is better for Hispanics.
A recent poll revealed that 45 percent of Latinos favor President Barack Obama, compared to just 11 percent for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro predicted that President Barack Obama will win at least 70 percent of the Hispanic vote, describing Republican challenger Mitt Romney as "the most conservative candidate that the Latino community has ever seen." Castro was the Democratic National Convention's keynote speaker on Sept. 4.
The Republican National Convention in Tampa tapped Florida Senator Marco Rubio as their speaker, and Latino Decision polls reflected a 4 percent bounce for Republican nominee Mitt Romney after the RNC.
Latinos are the fastest-growing voter bloc and they could be the difference in November. The election could be decided in key battleground states - such as Florida and Colorado - with large Hispanic populations.
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