The 2016 vote will be determined by Latino voters – and we mean it this time
*The headline is a little snarky, and I understand why, still, there are good statistics in this piece that paint a picture of increasing potential. The snark is appropriate because we keep talking about the burgeoning potential, and Latinos continue to stay home on election day. Could this time around be different? VL
By David Ferreinra, Fox News Latino
Every presidential cycle we hear the same old tired lines used to push voter registration drives and GOTV operations in Latino communities — “Latinos are deciding the election this year!” “Our community’s voice will finally be heard.” “They will have to pass comprehensive immigration reform if they want our vote.”
[pullquote][tweet_dis]If any Democrat is under the delusion that this will be an easy electoral cycle and presidential campaign, they are in for a surprise.[/tweet_dis][/pullquote]Like the untested first-time leader who projects confidence until they finally feel it, Latino voters find themselves in a situation where their actions need to match the rhetoric. This election cycle we have found ourselves in the exact the type of situation that our community has been coveting — will finally have the deciding vote in the general election.
The signs of our electoral strength have been apparent to us for quite some time, but the importance of the Latino vote has finally become broadly acknowledged in past few electoral cycles – the re-election of Senator Reid in 2010 and the overall Congressional cycle showed how Latinos could serve as a firewall against further GOP gains, and the 2012 cycle where Latino voters punished Romney’s self-deportation rhetoric handing President Obama 71 percent of their support compared to 27 percent supporting Romney.
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[Photo by Keith Ivey/Flickr]
