Bush Rates Lower With Spanish-Speaking Voters

[Island Blue]

This is great news. Support among Spanish-speaking voters has increased for Sen. Kerry since 2004. I've been a bit concerned about this for the past few of years (for one main reason), but it's good to know that maybe my fears were unwarranted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/19/AR2006071901840.html

A new poll of Spanish-speaking voters shows significant damage to the standing of President Bush and the Republican Party as a consequence of the debate over immigration policy.

The survey, paid for by the NDN, an affiliate of the Democratic Party, questioned 600 registered Hispanic voters for whom Spanish is the dominant language, in the last week of June. Spanish-dominant voters make up about half the Hispanic bloc and about 5 percent of the total electorate.

Bush had boosted the Republican share of the overall Hispanic vote to 40 percent in 2004, with almost all his gains coming among the Spanish-speaking voters. When the Spanish speakers were asked in this survey how they would now vote, John Kerry led Bush, 59 percent to 23 percent -- far better than the 52 percent to 48 percent showing Kerry achieved among Spanish speakers in 2004.

Bush, who had regularly received approval scores of 60 percent or more, now was trailing Kerry 38 percent to 58 percent on favorability ratings.

[karynnj]

1. This is fantastic

This is the first poll which I have seen that shows a significant improvement in the Kerry number as well as a significant decline in the Bush numbers. It is interesting that Bush (and perhaps the Republicans) did better among the Spanish speaking Hispanics than the more assimilated Hispanics.

Maybe they liked his Spanish language Democratic radio address or maybe the Spanish language coverage of his LA immigration event (which KG covered) has improved his position.

[ProSense]

2. Agree! Fantastic! n/t