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Florida's Latino vote up for grabs
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How are parties courting Hispanic voters?
- Duration 5:33
- Date Jan 30, 2012
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How are parties courting Hispanic voters?
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There's a major battle in Florida to win over Hispanic voters Florida is among the four states in this country.
With the largest Hispanic populations -- California in new York and Texas as the other three.
Together those four states account for more than half of all electoral votes need to be elected president to to -- a big deal.
Both Republicans and Democrats want votes from the Hispanic community consequently so how are the parties according of these voters were gonna take a closer look at this Simon Rosenberg.
The president -- and DN who has advised Democratic Party and had a reach out to Latino voters in the -- inclined director of Hispanic our reach for the Republican National Committee welcome to you both.
And Bettina let's go to start with you first we talk about winning over the Hispanic vote in Florida and I'm wondering if it's we're too quick to generalize.
-- -- Hispanic vote in Florida the same as a Hispanic vote in Texas and California an otherwise.
-- -- -- just think about in general it's a very diverse comedian and there are enough on the Olympic.
And in Florida it's very unique to -- -- Miami's South Florida Central Florida.
Have two very different Hispanic communities but they all have one of -- one being -- -- especially one thing common.
This election cycle that focus on the economy.
And and Simon how do you think the Democrats have done.
Reaching out to the -- the voters in that community and talking about jobs specifically when it comes to his.
Voters right now according to four national polls -- Latinos in the last few weeks Barack Obama's holding his 2008 numbers.
Mitt Romney is far below the numbers that John McCain got in 2008 and I think that conventional wisdom is.
In other Latino vote has been upset with the Republicans because of escalated rhetoric in recent years in the attacks and they've seen and there.
Community I think the Democrats feel pretty good that they're gonna do very well the cycle and I think Mitt Romney is gonna.
Have a tough time winning back the ground that they've lost in recent years he's been he's -- -- very anti immigrant anti Latino race so far I think he's gonna struggle in the general election.
Would you cat scratch is in it -- -- -- Now I think it's easy to deflect on the Obama's record -- has no record to.
-- run with the Hispanic community everything is he's talked about he's failed.
He's and there's high unemployment the Latino comedian -- more people living in poverty and is being in general are very disappointed if we look at Florida his approval rating has dipped eleven points.
On -- -- -- when he won in 2008.
And general Hispanics six in ten believe.
That -- economies on the wrong track and this president has not fulfilled -- -- -- amassing the same question as Simon and how the Republicans go out and do the right sort of outreach that Politico has a big article on how the president is custom tailoring his message and hit it Hispanic community.
How to republicans' answer that.
All think I'm very exciting part of the Republican National Committee recently -- -- announce the new enhanced effort to connect to this Phoenix throughout this country.
We -- gonna have boots on the ground some key states like Florida.
Nevada Colorado New Mexico -- some others and we're also doing a very strong communications efforts in English and -- And social media campaigns and the text campaign that you detects when they -- -- nine when nine when nine they multi facet efforts to make sure that with connecting with Hispanics throughout the country.
Let me get to that custom tailored message that Politico is talking about Simon.
-- basically said listen if you look at the facts the president are under this administration there's been a record number of deportations.
-- recently as recent as August there's -- of in the announcement that the administration was going to review.
Hundreds of thousands of deportations.
And at this table some of them indefinitely.
And some are suggesting of course critics of the administration that this is just you know pandering to -- vote right now.
An order to get the Hispanics in the side.
The administration talked to me a little bit about that potentially as a strategy.
And and how how how even another aside could come -- that.
If if you're in the seat of power.
Well I think the president.
Is getting a lot of credit for having tried very hard to fix the broken immigration system he's been blocked repeatedly by Republicans in the congress to have made.
Two and a enacted a bill that John McCain originally introduced back and 2005.
And was supported by George Bush president than President Bush.
And I think what's happened is that in the absence of that legislative progress.
The administrations had to focus on.
One off.
Administrative fixes to make the immigration system better we have a terrible immigration system in the country everybody.
Agrees with that all the viewers I think -- fox would agree that the question is how we make it better and I think the president is going to be -- run for reelection.
And 2012 saying he's made the border safer the immigration system better.
And that we've seen expanded trade with Mexico he's got a strong record here and I just this is where I disagree with -- -- I I think that the actions that he's taken in recent months is showing his commitment to continue despite legislative opposition.
To make the system that are.
-- -- Not this president has failed completely in the -- and he promised us first year when his running for president he -- first hear you address immigration.
We -- three years later and he has done absolutely nothing to do.
It with immigration hasn't propose a -- he -- also a good game but he hasn't done anything to address the system.
He supported -- -- immigrants and any president in US history.
And you think -- keep them accountable.
You can't just going to -- commuting -- a bunch of things and then not -- -- publicist and blame other people for your finger you're leader you're the leader of this country you have to you have -- You -- no record to run on.
-- ensign has certainly had a debate that'll continue to happen over -- comprehensive immigration reform ship and and what will resonate with voters not just -- fox viewers that voters in general we -- -- have you both back to talk more about it thank you thanks so much I think --