Latino Vote Turnout Likely to Lag, Poll Says

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PHOENIX — Arizona’s immigration law has prompted denunciations, demonstrations, boycotts and a federal lawsuit. But it may not bring the protest vote that many Democrats had hoped would stem a Republican onslaught in races across the country.

That is because although many voters are disillusioned with the political process, Latino voters are particularly dejected, and many may sit these elections out, according to voters, Latino organizations, political consultants and candidates.

A poll released Tuesday found that even though Latinos strongly back Democrats over Republicans, 65 percent to 22 percent, in the Congressional elections just four weeks away, only 51 percent of Latino registered voters said they would absolutely go to the polls, compared with 70 percent of all registered voters.

The other side in the immigration debate is suffering no such lack of enthusiasm. One measure of its high spirits is the dance card of Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix. Mr. Arpaio conducts raids in Latino neighborhoods that have led critics to label him a racist and the Justice Department to start a racial-profiling investigation. Despised by some, he is also in demand.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/us/politics/06immig.html?_r=1&th&emc=th