1. Latino Voter Attitudes Towards
Economic Policy and the
2012 Presidential Election
Matt A. Barreto, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, Latino Decisions
CHCI Policy Conference
Sept 12, 2012

2. Election 2012
Leading Issues of Concern…
In the 2012 Election In the Latino community
1. Economy (40%) 1. Immigration (46%)
2. Jobs (25%) 2. Create jobs (35%)
3. Immigration (23%) 3. Fix economy (19%)
4. Health care (16%) 4. Education (16%)
5. Education (12%) 5. Health care (9%)
6. Taxes (6%) 6. Taxes (1%)
Source: Univision News/Latino Decisions poll of 1,000 Latino registered voters, November 2011

3. Election 2012
The economy is an obvious “concern”
Reason the economy is not improving more quickly
60
50 56
40
30
20
22
10 13
0
Lack of leadership Lack of leadership Lack of cooperation
by Obama by GOP and fighting in
Congress
Source: impreMedia/Latino Decisions Tracking poll, Sept 10, 2012

4. Election 2012
Latino attitudes on economic policy
Best way to reduce the federal deficit?
Cut federal spending 7%
Raise taxes on wealthy 46%
Both tax increases
37%
and spending cuts
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Source: impreMedia/Latino Decisions Monthly Tracking Poll, August 2011

5. Election 2012
Latino attitudes on economic policy
Best way to fix the economy in 2012?
Lower taxes
29%
Govt invest in
55% stimulus projects
16%
Something
else
Source: Univision News/Latino Decisions 1 year election benchmark poll, November 2011

6. Election 2012
Latino attitudes on economic policy
Best way to handle today’s complex economy?
100%
80%
83%
60%
40%
20%
17%
0%
Need a strong government to Free market can handle
handle economic problems problems without government
being involved
Source: American National Election Study, Oct 2008

7. Election 2012
Otras temas en 2012
 Despite it’s importance, the economy does not consume
100% attention of all voters, many other issues remain
very salient
 Latinos know – like all voters know – that there is not a
magic wand to fix the economy
 Two other major policy issues remain salient
- Federal investment in education
- Federal investment in health care
 Immigration remains perhaps the most important
mobilizing issue in the Latino community

8. Election 2012
Economy as top
issue of “concern”
Immigration as a
symbolic, mobilizing
issue
Why?

9. Election 2012
After the SB1070 Supreme Court decision
Source: CAP/AV/Latino Decisions National Survey of Latinos July 18, 2012

10. Election 2012
Economy as top issue of “concern”
Immigration as a mobilizing issue
-19
+35
Source: America’s Voice / Latino Decisions June 2012 Battleground poll

11. Election 2012
Latino Population versus Latino Voters
Growth in U.S. Latino Population and Voters, ’00 - ’12
60
53.7
50
Total
40
Adult
35.3 35.5
30
Citizen
Adult
23.0 23.6
20 Reg
15.0
10 13.2 12.2 Voters
7.5
5.9
-
2000 2012

12. Election 2012
Latino Population versus Latino Voters
The gap in Latino voter registration
25
23.6
20 8.6 M
Citizen
15
Adult
15.0
13.2
5.7 M Reg
10
7.5
5
-
2000 2012