Once known as the sleeping giant, new findings reveal, that Latinos could indeed determine the outcome in swing states….
Voting by Hispanics surged in the last congressional elections, showing strength that could swing this year’s presidential vote in closely contested states like Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.
A government report released Tuesday shows that 5.6 million Hispanics voted in the 2006 general election, an increase of 18 percent over 2002, the previous year for a federal election without a presidential race on the ballot. That compares to a 7 percent increase among white voters and a 5 percent increase for black voters.
“For years they called the Latinos the sleeping giant. Well, they woke us up,” said Luis Vera, general counsel for the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC.
Vera said the debate over illegal immigration has energized Hispanic voters, a trend he expects to continue this year.
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