A new tracking poll survey released today by Latino Decisions shows a clear majority of Latinos approve of President Barack Obama, however his ratings are down by almost 10 points since March 2010. In the latest Latino Decisions tracking poll for August 30, 64.6% of Latino registered voters approved of the job being done by Obama, down from 73% in March, and down from his high mark of 81% in April 2009 at his 100 days mark.
While Obama approval stands at 64.6%, congressional approval is much lower, with just 45% approval and 45% disapproval among Latino registered voters. Heading into the midterm elections, Latino voters plan to vote Democrat, though a high percent remain uncommitted two months out — 52% plan to vote Democrat, 23% Republican, and 25% say they are undecided. The top issues to Latino voters continue to be the economy (36% most important), immigration reform (30%), job creation (21%), and health care (14%).
Immigration
Since the passage of Arizona’s SB1070, immigration has increased in importance to Latino voters, and both political parties have been blamed for the current stalemate. On the one hand, Republicans are seen as the party promoting anti-immigrant policies and face low approval. On the other hand, Democrats are seen as stalling or ignoring the issue and have not been able to energize the Latino electorate. In a May 2010 poll among Latino voters in Arizona we found that 59% blamed Republicans and 33% blamed both parties for SB1070, while over 60% said the Democrats did not do enough to stop the law from being passed.
Now, we find that 64% of Latino registered voters nationally oppose SB1070, and conversely 66% support the DOJ lawsuit against the state of Arizona. Latinos continued to show frustration with both parties on the issue of immigration: 38% said the Democrats are ignoring the issue of immigration reform and 14% said Democrats are opposing reform, just 32% agreed Democrats were trying to address immigration. For Republicans, 36% said the GOP was ignoring immigration reform, 34% said they were opposing reform, and just 16% said the GOP was working on it. While 52% approved of Obama’s handling of immigration, 40% disapproved.
Enthusiasm for Midterms?
While 76% of Latino registered voters say they are following news about politics and the November elections closely, just 44% say they are very enthusiastic about voting, and a majority state they are less excited about both Democrats and Republicans today, than they were in 2008. While 32% say they are more excited about the Democrats since the 2008 election, 51% are less excited today. For the Republicans, just 20% are more excited versus 60% who are less excited. While the previous midterm in 2006 brought renewed interest in political participation among Latinos, followed by historic turnout levels in 2008, the 2010 midterm election is not currently exhibiting the same trends.
- Full results of the survey are posted here
This is really cool, tracking poll data of Hispanics. Thanks for posting this, and I look forward to seeing these updates throughout the election.
Regarding the content, I am not surprised to see Obama is losing support among Latinos, he has not shown any leadership in trying to push Congress on the immigration bill, just a couple of speeches, but no legislative action.
The Republicans are so funny, when the economy is good you say let’s all celebrate “Cinco de Mayo, my brothers” but when the economy is down “it’s all your fault, you damn immigrant”. When most Americans (with Latin America roots) go to the polls this November we will remember that the GOP has gone on a nationwide rant in proposing and passing several anti-immigration legislation and have continue to blame the immigrant for the flat economy or worse. We will remember who stands with us and who stands against us, so trying to stop it now is somewhat funny, but go ahead, you will not change our minds. Plus the more radical of the GOP are now attacking our Constitution and our Bill of Rights, in a misguided attempt to garner some much needed votes, they really are fools, and leading the GOP towards obscurity because they are no longer a party of ideas, just of empty suits. Your hate made you do it, in November; you will reap what you have sown. I wonder what Abraham Lincoln would say today about the GOP, he unlike you was a man of ideas.
Boy some of you are misinformed. Republicans are not out there screaming about Latinos and doing everything possible to keep Latinos out of America. They are about giving ALL American citizens rights above anyone who is here illegally; albeit Latino, Italian, Asian, European, African, Somali, etc. Republicans are NOT AGAINST immigration. They are against massive amounts of people hoarding across the border illegally. It poses a huge national security threat. Don’t you think so?
Sounds to me like you get your information from Saturday Night Live.
Republicans are pushing legislation at the state level that is anti-inmigrant and it is turning Latino voters to think before voting for a Republican. Now President Obama has not shown any leadership in the issue of inmigration nor has he tried to move any legislation through Congress. So my recommendation to Latino voters is vote to keep the house democratic and then if nothing happens in the next two years Obama will loose our vote. i am giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Bri: The most outrageous racial profile law was AZ SB1070, the one that failed in our US Courts that the proponents claimed was Constitutional. The current GOP wants to decide for you when they will apply the Constitution in the bent minds. Considering that all the numbers of crime are down (even ex-governor Janet Napolitano agrees).
So we have Brewer signing a bill (that she probably did not even read), lying about the crime rates in AZ, and now we find out that she is in the pockets of PRIVATE PRISONS who stand to benefit with the increase Federal jailing.
So quit lying, with your pathelic rhetoric, stand up and be men, no, no I am sorry your leaders are now just Birthers, Baggers and Blowhards and will contine to take the GOP towards obscurity because they are no longer a party of ideas, just of empty suits. Good bye, fawell….
Whoever said I was a Republican?
news for Democrats is that Congressional two-party vote has moved in their direction, up 3.6%