Hello all,
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/26/2609873_in-campaign-romney-rarely-notes.html
I read this article from the Miami Herald, and I was surprised that Mitt Romney doesn't heavily emphasize his connection to Mexico in a state with a lot of Hispanic voters. Would it help him or hurt him more if he did? I know Hispanic voters went to the polls for Obama in 2008, but that doesn't necessarily mean this can't change. I assume the obstacle for Romney would be how to court Hispanic voters without seeming weak on immigration issues. This route could hurt his standing among voters among the far right.
At the moment catering to right is what all the republican candidates are trying to do. However, once the republican party has a nominee, I am sure the far right would still back an unfavored republican over Obama no matter what. The left will side with Obama. The moderate swing voters are who will decide this election. If the republicans want to take these voters away from Obama they need to appeal to other groups besides the far right and their party base. If Mitt Romney gets the republican nomination it would be wise for him to reach out to a wider variety of voters. In my opinion, it would be in his favor to appeal to Hispanic voters at this time. He could really hurt Obama if he took away that demographic. Most republicans dislike Obama so much they would tolerate Mitt Romney appealing to Hispanics. However, let's see what actually happens . . .
~ Melissa
Update: I noticed later today some of the statements Romney made to the Hispanic community. And I think is interesting how Gingrich and Romney are trying to win this group over.
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I think the main answer to Melissa's question about Romney's failure to emphasize his family's roots in Mexico is that his grandfather settled there as a polygamist Mormon after polygamy was banned in the United States. The Mormon colony that remains there reportedly still practices polygamy. Hence Romney's reluctance to open this can of worms. He's also tacking to the nativist elements of the Republican right on immigration, which didn't hurt him with Cuban Americans in Florida, but they are a rather unique brand of latinos who are more Republican than non-Cuban latinos due to the GOP's rabid anti-Castroism. In Nevada, the Hispanic vote is massive; but it's mostly Democratic; large chunks of it are associated with the big LDS community in NV, which is pro-Romney.
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