GOP looks to improve image with Hispanics

Ileana Calderon rose early Saturday to caucus with other Republicans at Rancho High School.

As a Cuban immigrant, the 65-year-old doesn't take the privileges of U.S. democracy lightly.

"When I step on this ground, I think of liberty," said Calderon, 65.

She, together with her mother, Teresa Vich, 86, and granddaughter, Sabrina Young, 14, appeared to be among the relatively few Hispanics in the crowd of about 200, despite Rancho being located in a heavily Hispanic neighborhood near Bruce Street and Owens Avenue.

Republicans have been trying to shore up support in the Hispanic community, which can swing elections in more states these days, including Nevada. But at Rancho, it was a predominantly white, older crowd.

Hispanics haven't always felt welcome in the Republican Party, which has generally taken a tough stance against illegal immigration and pushed for enforcing current laws rather than comprehensive reform.

But Calderon said you can't generalize any voting bloc by ethnicity.

"I see myself as a U.S. citizen first," she said. "I hate putting people in little groups."

Calderon supported candidate Mitt Romney in part because she believes he will "enforce the laws of this country as far as the border" is concerned.

"I came here legally," she said. "It's a different mindset. There are thousands waiting abroad to get in legally, who have followed all the steps. You should abide by the law and not cut corners."

In Nevada, Hispanics make up 26 percent of the population and were 15 percent of the electorate in 2008 and 2010.

Democrats have about a 2-to-1 registration advantage over Republicans among Hispanics in the state.

Republican President George W. Bush enjoyed strong Hispanic support nationwide in his 2004 re-election, winning 44 percent of Latino votes. Yet he failed to get Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform in 2006.

Democrats since have made huge strides in winning over more of the Hispanic community.

In 2008, President Barack Obama won the support of 67 percent of Hispanics nationwide and 74 percent in Nevada.

Obama, too, promised immigration reform but has failed, something that has hurt him among some Hispanics.

Where Republican candidates stand on the issue of illegal immigration won't make or break them for many Hispanic party members, said Tibi Ellis, a Las Vegas resident who is secretary for the Latino National Republican Coalition.

"Immigration is not the top interest for Latino voters in general," she said last week. "It's the economy."

Still, "You have to be careful," she said. "The community is not monolithic. None of the issues are important to everybody."

Ellis predicted that support for Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul would be split among Hispanic voters, despite the fact that Paul "is the only candidate who has addressed the larger Latino community in Las Vegas in public."

Paul met Wednesday morning with the influential group Hispanics in Politics, telling them he favors an easier path for legal immigration to the United States.

Gingrich met privately with local Hispanic business and community leaders on Thursday.

Calderon and Vich said the economy is their No. 1 issue this election year. So did Sabrina, who is too young to vote but tagged along with her grandmothers because she thought it would be cool to see how a caucus works.

"My family has been suffering financially," Sabrina said. "My mom lost a house."

The three all were supporting Romney, who they believe has the business and financial acumen to help stabilize the economy.

"He has the stability of character to put things in order," Calderon said.

Vich, who immigrated to the United States with her family in 1962, was praying in Spanish for Romney to win Nevada.

"I hope to God everything works out."

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@reviewjournal.com.

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Comments

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1. elveret.odamit Feb. 7, 2012 | 7:40 p.m. Report Abuse

   tHey probably found out Bummer knows how to pick losing businesses, another company Fisker Automotive that got $1/2 billion Obama funds filing for bankruptcy soon .they all give out bonuses to the employees when they bankrupt. more hard working middle class tax payer money. they were trying to sell elect cars made in Finland built with tax payer $$$$$ for $100k each and no buyers just like the Bama motors` Volt aka Firebird.

2. AlCast Feb. 6, 2012 | 9:38 a.m. Report Abuse

   Hispanics Also Turned NEVADA from bright RED Republican to Bright BLUE Democrat in ONE SWIFT BLOW in 2008.
   That was not a "transition" it was a TOGGLE Swing.
   
   "SNAP!!"

3. AlCast Feb. 6, 2012 | 2:24 a.m. Report Abuse

   @ UTE:
   Read my other post here WHY CUBANS are RATpublicans.
   
   and it is only the CUBANS. no other Latinos or "minorities" support the that party.

4. AlCast Feb. 6, 2012 | 2:13 a.m. Report Abuse

   Cubans only support RATpublicans because they oppose Fidel Castro and they know the RATpublicans hate Castro. and they feel that they can help overthrow castro out of power. /// However, when Castro dies; There will no longer be an incentive to side w the RATpubilcans. and Thus will lose all Latino supporters.

5. Joe C Feb. 5, 2012 | 7:57 p.m. Report Abuse

   @desertranger,,, Actually Obama is taking credit for arrest and deportations that were started during the Bush years. Along with the funding that was allocated for more boots on the ground before Obama took office. Deportation courts and training Border Patrol take time, you know legislating funds, our immigration courts can take years. Many deportations are a direct result from the Secured Community program stated before Obama. Plus Obama ended further funding for the fence, work place enforcements and is ending or short funding the Secured Community program. Plus wasting huge amounts of taxpayer money suing states along side foreign governments for doing what our federal government has failed at and won’t do, enforce immigration laws. I would like to see your proof that it is illegal aliens that directly contribute the unclaimed funds to Social Security? While a small fraction of the unclaimed SS funds may be from illegals; illegal aliens use much more than they contribute. In LA County alone illegal alien welfare costs exceed $1 billion yearly not including education, $500 million for health costs, mind you that’s just LA. Your facts about Obama being tougher are less than accurate and to say Obama has done a better job, well if that were true, BETTER FAILURE, IS STILL FRIGGING FAILURE. The BS is from those like you. UMC spends $24 million yearly for just ONE issue for 80 (dialyzes) or so illegals yearly and is losing around $70 to 80 million. So at least one third and actually much more of UMC losses are directly from illegal aliens. You need to prove your BS before spouting it.

6. skip1 Feb. 5, 2012 | 7:25 p.m. Report Abuse

   Members of the Nevada Republik Party: You have been told to vote for, now get in line and be quiet.

7. desertranger Feb. 5, 2012 | 5:01 p.m. Report Abuse

   The Obama administration has deported more illegals in three and a half years than Bush did in eight years. Plus, the Dems have strengthend the borders. End the BS about Obama and the Democrats are hindering deportaion of illegals. Illegal immigration has been reduced to almost nil over the last year. Also, illegal who are working in the US contribute between $70 to 90 billions dollars a year to Social Securty and Medicare, and these illegals will never collect a dime of this.

8. John.Turkovich Feb. 5, 2012 | 5:01 p.m. Report Abuse

   The Nevada GOP might want to improve it's image with Nevada Republicans after the caucus fiasco!

9. UTE Feb. 5, 2012 | 4:37 p.m. Report Abuse

   How any minority could be or support a Republican is beyond me.

10. Only in Vegas Feb. 5, 2012 | 3:19 p.m. Report Abuse

    @ Jasper. That is the truth 100%, but that is why I like Newt. He is walking a tight line with PCness. I think if he is elected I will invest heavily in bus manufacturers.

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