Bush Drag on GOP Among Latinos; Latino Policy Coalition Poll Shows President Poorly Regarded by Hispanic Voters

Sacramento, CA--(HISPANIC PR WIRE – US Newswire)--May 4, 2006--A new national survey released today by the Latino Policy Coalition finds that President George W. Bush has dramatically less support among Latino voters than popularly believed. He has even less support among Latinos than the Republican Party has.

"These findings debunk the conventionally held notion that Bush enjoys better than average affection among Latino voters," said Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners, who conducted the poll. "In fact, Bush's unpopularity among Latino voters has the potential to cause serious damage to Republicans as they head into the 2006 midterm elections."

The national poll found that Bush's positive job performance rating among Latino voters is a staggeringly low 23 percent. In contrast, 75 percent of Latino voters have a negative view of the job the president is doing.

"This survey reveals the failure of Karl Rove's strategy to grow the Republican share of Latino voters to a consistent forty-plus," said Antonio Gonzalez, president of the William C. Velasquez Institute, and a member of the Latino Policy Coalition. "President Bush's approval rating is down to 23 percent and falling, with the Republican-led Congress' rating even worse."

On a personal level, Bush fares even worse among Latino voters in terms of his personal popularity than his own party. Bush is perceived positively by only 30 percent of Latino voters, while the Republicans in Congress are perceived positively by 33 percent of Latino voters.

"Whenever I see the sticker 'Viva Bush', it really irks me," said one New Mexico Latino male respondent. "Because what has he done for us? Anyone who has that sticker should be sent hunting with Dick Cheney."

The survey also found Bush to be as bad, or even worse, than his party on key issues, including healthcare and prescription drugs, education and even terrorism. Democrats hold solid advantages over Republicans and Bush on those issues as well. In fact, in the 2006 general election congressional trial heat, Latinos would vote solidly Democratic, 50 percent to just 21 percent for Republicans.

"These data underscore the difficulty Republicans face in institutionalizing Latino support," said Dr. Fernando Guerra, director of The Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University. "If President Bush, a Texan who campaigned heavily with Latinos and supposedly received more Latino voter support than any other Republican in forty years can't do it, no one can. With their best mountain climber sidelined, Republicans have a tough mountain to climb with little footing and even less gear."

The survey, conducted by Lake Research Partners, surveyed 1,000 Latino adults (800 Latino registered voters) in 23 states with the highest Latino population density. It was conducted April 20-26, 2006 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percent.

About the Latino Policy Coalition

The Latino Policy Coalition is a national non-partisan non-profit consortium of the country's leading Latino research organizations and scholars. The LPC analyzes, through nationwide public opinion surveys, policy issues affecting the Latino community. Chaired by former San Francisco City and County Supervisor Jim Gonzalez, the LPC seeks to highlight Latino community views on key national issues; and thus stimulate public policy debate among local, state and national elected officials.

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What Members Of Latino Policy Coalition Are Saying About The Bush Survey Results...

"According to our poll, the Bush Latino strategy has failed. Whatever support he has personally had with some Latinos, it has evaporated as the most regressive elements in the Republican Party have revived their anti-Latino rhetoric to a now high today." -- Angelo Falcon, president, National Institute for Latino Policy, New York, NY

"To the extent that it was present, President Bush has depleted the reservoir of goodwill he had established with Latinos. It may be that Latinos, like many Americans continue to find him affable but his job performance abysmal."

-- Dr. Sylvia Manzano, instructor, Political Science Department, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX

"President Bush promised Latino voters that he would create a guest worker program and path to legalization as a candidate and throughout his first term. His inaction has led millions of Latinos to take matters into their own hands and mobilize." -- Dr. Frances Marquez, assistant professor of government, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC

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