The Latinos for Kerry momentum

[IndianaGreen]

Latinos are the largest minority group in the US, and growing. None of the polls are properly counting the Latino voters.

The Latinos for Kerry momentum
Author: Rosalio Muñoz
People's Weekly World Newspaper, 10/14/04 17:21

The more the Latino voter turnout grows by Nov. 2, the greater the likelihood the Kerry-Edwards ticket will defeat Bush-Cheney and the extreme right-wing majority in Congress. Latinos are expected to favor Kerry at a 60–75 percent rate. Already the increase in Latino turnout is projected as at least 1 million and could reach close to 2 million, says the Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project. The group projects 9.5 million Latino registered voters, a 2 million increase over 2000.

This tremendous gain for the Democrats is not reflected in the polls, which are based on likely voters. One-sixth to one-third of the expected 7–8 million Latino voters will be new and fall outside the scope of the polls. Fully projecting the likely Latino vote would give Kerry-Edwards a 1 percent or greater advantage in the polls, and even more in key battleground states like Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado where the Latino vote is substantial. In Kerry’s big popular and electoral vote base in California, New York and Illinois, Latinos are a key element of his support.

The Latinos for Kerry momentum has steadily increased since he emerged as the frontrunner in the primaries. At that time, in polls of Latinos he was rated even or slightly ahead. In June, a Gallup poll of Latinos gave Kerry a 57–38 lead. In July a Pew Hispanic Center poll gave Kerry a 62–33 lead. On Oct. 9, a Zogby poll of “likely” voters gave Kerry 64 percent.

The heart of Kerry’s approach to Latinos has been the bread-and-butter issues. He has outlined his program at key labor and civil rights conventions. He stands for labor law reform that would allow a majority of workers to be recognized as members of the union of their choice, an increase in the minimum wage, closing tax loopholes for big corporations and the rich to increase funding for public education, health care coverage, and affordable housing. He calls for immigration reforms to increase the opportunity for permanent residency and citizenship for undocumented residents. In contrast, the Bush record and platform reject such policies.

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/5952/1/236/