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Hispanic and Latino Issues

Former Gov. Jeb Bush recently argued in an op-ed that Hispanic voters will represent the margin of victory in the 15 swing states that will decide who will win the race for the White House. Is his political intuition right? And if it is, how do both parties significantly increase their chances of winning the Hispanic vote?

Latest Stories

Latinos won't forget Romney's 'anti-immigrant' talkupdated: Tue Jan 31 2012 08:29:00

Responding angrily to a campaign ad from Newt Gingrich accusing him of being anti-immigrant, Mitt Romney insisted during last week's Republican debate at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville that he has no problem with immigrants.

VP Marco Rubio? The man in demandupdated: Fri Jan 27 2012 09:33:00

Will he or won't he? And would it matter?

Rubio a popular potential cabinet pickupdated: Fri Jan 27 2012 09:33:00

The four GOP contenders name several Hispanic leaders who could potentially serve in their administrations.

Going after Florida's Latino voteupdated: Thu Jan 26 2012 12:18:00

Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney fight for the key constituency in Florida. CNN's Jim Acosta reports.

GOP, don't blow it with Florida's Latinos updated: Thu Jan 26 2012 12:18:00

On behalf of all those Latino voters who have figured out that the Obama administration is the most hostile to Latino immigrants of any administration in the last half century and who are looking for an alternative, let me say this to the Republican presidential candidates: "Bienvenidos to Florida! Now, behave yourselves."

Conn. cops accused of racial profilingupdated: Thu Jan 26 2012 12:17:00

Dermot Lynch, Yale Law student, and Father James Manship, arrested by the New Haven police, discuss the officer's behavior.

Connecticut mayor apologizes for 'taco' commentupdated: Thu Jan 26 2012 12:17:00

The mayor of East Haven, Connecticut, apologized Wednesday for saying he would help Latinos in his town by eating tacos, a remark that sparked anger from state officials and immigrant advocates already fuming over allegations of police mistreatment of Latinos in his city.

Florida's Latino voters will be a factor in the primaryupdated: Tue Jan 24 2012 15:27:00

As the attention of the nation turns toward Florida ahead of its primary election, the Latino vote has emerged as an important factor.

Hispanic GOP group endorses Gingrichupdated: Mon Jan 16 2012 12:20:00

Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has received the endorsement of the nation's largest Hispanic Republican group.

Why is Arizona threatened by Mexican-American studies?updated: Sat Jan 07 2012 10:12:00

Who's afraid of a harmless course in Mexican-American studies?

Why Rubio won't help GOP get Latino voteupdated: Mon Oct 31 2011 13:01:00

Repeat after me, GOP: "Marco Rubio will not be our savior with Latinos in the 2012 election."

CNN Student News Learning Activity and Resources: Hispanic Heritage Monthupdated: Thu Oct 20 2011 11:31:00

Students will investigate the contributions of Hispanic Americans to U.S. culture, and what it means to be an Hispanic in America today.

Hispanic Heritage - Independence Day Tourupdated: Thu Oct 20 2011 11:31:00

Take an Independence Day tour through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Why Nevada's Latino vote could make the difference in the 2012 electionupdated: Fri Oct 14 2011 18:22:00

A tour outside the casino zone in Las Vegas reveals the Latino influence in Nevada.

Cain leaps to the top of the packupdated: Fri Oct 14 2011 18:22:00

CNN's John King and a panel discuss GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain's surge in the polls.

Latinos tweeting their issues, ideas to topupdated: Thu Oct 06 2011 18:09:00

As a musician and social justice activist, online social media has helped Maria Isa sell more CDs and mobilize the growing number of Latinos in her home city of Minneapolis.

The Face of Povertyupdated: Fri Sep 30 2011 05:33:00

The Face of Poverty

Study: Largest U.S. group of poor kids is now Hispanicupdated: Fri Sep 30 2011 05:33:00

For the first time in U.S. history, the largest single group of poor children in any racial or ethnic category is Hispanic, according to a new survey.

Can Obama fortify African-American support?updated: Wed Sep 28 2011 13:25:00

Robert Traynham and James Peterson on the challenges facing the President oin the African American community.

GOP stifling efforts for immigration reform, Obama saysupdated: Wed Sep 28 2011 13:25:00

Republicans lack the leadership to put comprehensive immigration reform back to the table, President Barack Obama said Wednesday during an online roundtable about issues in the Hispanic community.

Mexico's 1930 census revealed, a mine of data for 32 million Americansupdated: Sat Sep 24 2011 22:06:00

Actor Edward James Olmos wishes he could trace his family's Mexican history back 100,000 years, but he'll have to settle for 1930 for now.

Will Hispanics be the swing voting bloc of 2012?updated: Thu Sep 15 2011 20:28:00

In the middle of the massive effort to protect New Yorkers from the effects of Hurricane Irene last month, a colorful moment gave people an amusing opportunity to laugh and joke. It was New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's efforts to communicate with Spanish-speaking New Yorkers in their own language.

Politicians court the Latino voteupdated: Thu Sep 15 2011 18:11:00

Leaders say the dramatic growth in Latino voting power will be decisive in 2012's elections. CNN's Rafael Romo reports.

Don't stereotype Hispanic Americaupdated: Thu Sep 15 2011 18:11:00

When you refuse to acknowledge a group of people in all their nuances and complexities, or depict them as predictable and one-dimensional, or dictate for them a code of acceptable behavior, it is a blatant sign of disrespect.

CNN Student News Learning Activity: Hispanic Heritage Monthupdated: Thu Sep 15 2011 16:07:00

Students will investigate the contributions of Hispanic Americans to U.S. culture, and what it means to be an Hispanic in America today.

Tampa GOP debate: No talking pointsupdated: Mon Sep 12 2011 05:46:00

CNN's Don Lemon interviews members of the Tampa Tea Party prior to Monday's candidate forum.

In Florida, Cuban coffee meets tea party politicsupdated: Mon Sep 12 2011 05:46:00

For politicians seeking public office, a stop at the iconic Cafe Versailles is a must.

Studios try to 'crack the code' on Latino moviegoersupdated: Thu Jul 14 2011 07:22:00

In the same way Hispanics have become an important political voice, so it goes with Hollywood and moviegoing.

Facing a cultural divide in my mixed marriageupdated: Thu Jul 07 2011 16:58:00

I'm in a mixed marriage. My wife is Mexican and I'm Mexican-American.

Texas prepares for redistricting battleupdated: Fri Jul 01 2011 10:38:00

CNN's Ed Lavandera reports on the redistricting battle that is brewing in Texas.

Latinos push for political influenceupdated: Fri Jul 01 2011 10:38:00

Armed with fresh census data, Latinos around the country are flexing their political muscle. From state legislatures to Congress, the Hispanic vote is getting a voice.

Hispanic conservatives keep close eye on Republican debateupdated: Sun Jun 26 2011 00:29:00

As Republicans gear up for Monday's presidential debate in New Hampshire, some conservative Hispanics say they'll be watching closely -- and they're hoping to see more than the current field of candidates has offered so far.

Latino officials see big Hispanic vote in 2012updated: Thu Jun 23 2011 18:36:00

The largest gathering of Latino elected officials in the United States projects a record number of Hispanic voters in next year's election.

'Tequila Party' aims to increase Latino voting blocupdated: Tue May 31 2011 18:20:00

By now, people in the United States and elsewhere in the world are familiar with the Tea Party, but there's a new social movement on the political block -- it's called the "Tequila Party," and its leaders say the group is serving as a wake-up call to the Latino voting bloc.

Hispanics lead U.S. embrace of mobile technologyupdated: Fri May 20 2011 09:44:00

As the run-up to the 2012 U.S. elections gains momentum, Hispanic Americans may prove to be an especially influential political force. According to a new report, the political mobilization of U.S. Hispanics is an increasingly mobile (as in cell phones) phenomenon.

Is Obama ready to mess with Texas? 'Not a chance'updated: Tue Apr 19 2011 16:49:00

When President Obama sat down at the White House with a Texas television station Monday, one of the four interviews he did with local TV reporters, he may have also raised speculation that Democrats think solidly red Texas might be in play in 2012.

Cultures clash as Oklahoma's Hispanic population surgesupdated: Tue Apr 05 2011 14:08:00

Marcelino Garcia's three-decade journey from illegal immigrant to successful businessman has unfolded against an unlikely backdrop -- the deeply conservative state of Oklahoma.

Latinos are Oklahoma's new nativesupdated: Tue Apr 05 2011 14:08:00

New census figures show Hispanics have surpassed American Indians as the largest minority group in Oklahoma.

2010: Rubio: GOP wins a second chanceupdated: Thu Mar 31 2011 11:11:00

Florida's Senator-elect Marco Rubio says it would be a "mistake" to assume the U.S. is entering a Republican era.

Can Rubio help GOP with Latinos in 2012?updated: Thu Mar 31 2011 11:11:00

We don't know who will be the Republican nominee for president next year. But we do know who stands a good chance of being the Republican nominee for vice president: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

President focuses on needs of Latino students in town hall meetingupdated: Mon Mar 28 2011 22:19:00

President Barack Obama took to the Spanish-language network airwaves Monday to discuss challenges in educating Hispanics students.

Hispanic population exceeds 50 million, firmly nation's No. 2 groupupdated: Fri Mar 25 2011 05:38:00

The growing Hispanic population in the United States has reached a new milestone, topping 50 million, or 16.3% of the nation, officially solidifying its position as the country's second-largest group, U.S. Census Bureau officials said Thursday.

Is America becoming a Hispanic country?updated: Fri Mar 18 2011 10:15:00

The United States is becoming an Hispanic country. And it's happening much faster than anyone expected.

Hispanics lag behind in internet usage, study saysupdated: Thu Feb 10 2011 09:59:00

Hispanics in the United States are less likely than whites to access the internet, have a home broadband connection or own a cell phone, according to a study by the Pew Hispanic Center released Wednesday.

Paging Jeb Bush -- for 2012updated: Mon Nov 15 2010 11:25:00

Americans are horribly divided over the legacy of our 43rd president: George W. Bush. These factions locked horns when Bush was in office, and they're at it again this month now that Bush has released "Decision Points," a memoir of his personal and political life.

Stigma haunts mentally ill Latinosupdated: Mon Nov 15 2010 08:36:00

Gabriela Martinez always spent a lot of time in bed, and she rarely laughed, or even spoke. For decades, her family shrugged off this unusual behavior as nervios, or "nerve problems."

Pew report: Latinos divided over illegal immigrants, other issuesupdated: Thu Oct 28 2010 12:00:00

Latinos in the United States are divided over a host of issues, including what to do about unauthorized immigrants, a reflection of the national political controversy over illegal immigration, a national study released Thursday finds.

Obama signs executive order enhancing Hispanic education initiativeupdated: Tue Oct 19 2010 15:43:00

President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed an executive order that updates and enhances a 1990 presidential initiative intended to boost education for Hispanic students.

Don't pigeonhole Hispanic votersupdated: Fri Oct 08 2010 13:34:00

There have been a number of stories recently about California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, her former housekeeper (an illegal immigrant) and the possible electoral fallout.

Study: Latinos support Democrats but not enthusiastic about electionupdated: Tue Oct 05 2010 13:30:00

Latino support for Democratic candidates remains strong, with 65 percent of registered Hispanic voters saying they plan to vote for the Democrat in their congressional district in next month's midterm elections, the Pew Hispanic Center said in a report Tuesday.

Economic impact of immigration lawupdated: Thu Jul 29 2010 12:11:00

Barry Broome of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council talks about the economic impact of Arizona's immigration law.

Specter of Arizona immigration law slowly drains economyupdated: Thu Jul 29 2010 12:11:00

Jairo Tellez's seafood distribution business is a family affair. In the industrial warehouse that houses J and V Mariscos on the west side of Phoenix, his wife, Vicki, and four of his seven children load trucks, take phone calls, enter data and help care for his infant grandson, who has a playpen in Tellez's office.

Obama calls for immigration overhaulupdated: Mon Jul 05 2010 15:41:00

President Obama explains why he believes the immigration system needs to be overhauled and lays out his plan to do it.

Latinos not flexing political muscle -- yetupdated: Mon Jul 05 2010 15:41:00

Each election cycle is dubbed "the year" -- a time when Latinos will show up at the polls in droves and transform the political landscape.

Frum offensive on Mexican immigrantsupdated: Fri May 14 2010 10:25:00

It's wrong to mischaracterize an entire group of Americans in an effort to prevent members of a culturally related group from ever having a chance at sharing in the American dream.

An uphill battle to combat Latino childhood obesityupdated: Sat Oct 24 2009 15:19:00

When she was about 8, Frida Sepulveda developed dark folds of skin around her neck. It's a well-known warning sign of type 2 diabetes.

Voices from the Latino communityupdated: Thu Oct 22 2009 16:45:00

Watch some of the countless stories unfolding among the fastest growing population in the U.S.

Commentary: Latinos are assimilating in the USAupdated: Wed Oct 21 2009 20:52:00

Have you ever seen 47 million people hold their breath and hope for the best?

Businesswoman cooks up successupdated: Wed Oct 21 2009 14:23:00

Lorena Garcia is a successful businesswoman driven by a passion to cook and communicate.

Browning of the Catholic Churchupdated: Wed Oct 21 2009 11:19:00

Chile rellenos have replaced fish as the main draw for one Catholic Church in St. Louis, Missouri.

Latinos may be 'future' of U.S. Catholic Churchupdated: Wed Oct 21 2009 11:19:00

"I'll take two chili, uh..." a hungry customer stammers at the front of a two-hour-long line. "Chile rellenos," the money-handler trills back in perfect Spanish. This is not a trendy Tex-Mex restaurant; and it's more than 1,000 miles from the Mexican border.

Outreach to Hispanicsupdated: Wed Oct 21 2009 08:42:00

Both parties make concerted efforts to reach out to the growing Latino population. CNN's Jessica Yellin reports.

Commentary: Latinos have made it, but there's still work to be doneupdated: Mon Oct 19 2009 13:10:00

Across America, the Latino population is growing, and it is now the largest minority group in the country. Latino voices are being heard, and their economic impact is being felt in the marketplace, which is good for the whole of the nation.

Commentary: Mexican-Americans have deep U.S. tiesupdated: Wed Oct 07 2009 21:24:00

Just about any celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) will highlight the diversity among Hispanics.

Gay Latino Americans are 'coming of age'updated: Wed Sep 23 2009 17:16:00

Perez Hilton is a celebrity blogger who dishes out the latest Hollywood gossip, but there's something about his personal life you may not know.

Commentary: GOP's problem with Hispanicsupdated: Fri Sep 04 2009 16:19:00

David Iglesias, the former U.S. attorney for New Mexico, is a cautionary tale for young Hispanics who think the road to political power leads through the Republican Party.

SI.com: John P. Lopez: Sanchez may be NFL's key to opening Hispanic marketupdated: Tue Jul 14 2009 15:11:00

The NFL has spent a lot of time and money taking mighty swings at the multi-billion dollar Hispanic market. The result? It's been as if the league has been blindfolded, spun around in circles, and told to hit a piñata with one-hand tied behind its collective back.

Republicans walk a fine line on Sotomayorupdated: Wed May 27 2009 13:33:00

The Republican Party risks further alienating Hispanic voters if it challenges the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, who would become the first Hispanic, and the third woman, on the Supreme Court, political analysts say.

Latinos rejoice in Sotomayor nominationupdated: Wed May 27 2009 09:48:00

Cecilia Lopez, a student who is the first person from her family to go to college, sees something of herself in the first Hispanic woman to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Survey delves into high birth rate for young Latinasupdated: Tue May 19 2009 21:10:00

She had many plans for the future: to go to college, start a career, meet the man of her dreams, raise a family -- when the time was right.

Pregnant, teen and Latinaupdated: Tue May 19 2009 21:10:00

Teen pregnancy rates in the U.S. are highest among Latinas. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen reports

CNNMoney: Census: U.S. becoming more diverseupdated: Thu May 14 2009 11:12:00

The nation is becoming even more diverse: More than one third of its population belongs to a minority group, and Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment.

Hispanic population boom fuels rising U.S. diversityupdated: Thu May 14 2009 01:37:00

The nation is becoming even more diverse: More than one third of its population belongs to a minority group, and Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment.

Film fest explores Hollywood's take on Latinosupdated: Tue May 05 2009 12:51:00

When "La Bamba" hit movie screens in 1987, audiences flocked to see the true story of singer Ritchie Valens, who died as a teen in an airplane crash almost three decades earlier.

Report: Integration lags, even as suburban schools add minoritiesupdated: Tue Mar 31 2009 11:28:00

The nation's suburban schools added 3.4 million students to their rolls over the past 15 years -- and nearly all of them were minorities, according to a study released Tuesday.

Research shows Hispanic women get breast cancer treatment lateupdated: Wed Feb 04 2009 14:26:00

When Maria Rubeo closed her arm, she felt something "very big -- like a lemon."

Commentary: Republicans, don't patronize Hispanicsupdated: Thu Jan 29 2009 16:29:00

As the members of the Republican National Committee prepare to choose a party chairman to serve for the next two years, the calls for new "Hispanic outreach" initiatives are flying -- in my view, unnecessarily.

Richardson withdrawal disappoints Latinosupdated: Tue Jan 06 2009 07:24:00

Bill Richardson's withdrawal from his commerce secretary nomination Sunday didn't just leave a major gap in the new administration, but it also sorely disappointed Latinos who view the New Mexico governor as their most prominent representative.

Commentary: Hollywood sees world in black and whiteupdated: Fri Oct 10 2008 11:57:00

Documentary filmmaker Philip Rodriguez is sick of black-and-white television.

Latino vote emerges as swing vote in Coloradoupdated: Tue Sep 23 2008 17:44:00

After decades as a Democratic organizer and activist, Ramona Martinez is convinced the moment is finally at hand.

Poll: 'Sharp reversal' for Obama with Latino votersupdated: Thu Jul 24 2008 20:14:00

A new poll released Thursday shows overwhelming support from Latinos for Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. John McCain.

Pew Poll on Latino supportupdated: Thu Jul 24 2008 20:14:00

Pew Hispanic Center's Susan Minushkin explain Thursday's poll on Latino support for Sen. Obama.

With ethnic vote so crucial, usual rules don't applyupdated: Tue Jul 22 2008 23:07:00

Both Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain are treading some unfamiliar campaign-year terrain this summer as key blocs of ethnic voters shift the electoral landscape and put previously uncontested states, big and small, up for grabs.

McCain reassures Latinos on immigration reformupdated: Wed Jul 16 2008 10:52:00

Sen. John McCain on Monday sought to reassure Hispanic voters of his commitment to them after Sen. Barack Obama accused him of backing down on immigration reform for political reasons.

Analysis: What's wrong with pandering to Latino voters?updated: Wed Jul 16 2008 10:34:00

"Pandering." According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to pander is to: "provide gratification for others' desires." So is that what John McCain and Barack Obama are doing with Hispanic voters?

Campaign look aheadupdated: Sun Jul 13 2008 17:11:00

A look ahead to what both John McCain and Barack Obama are up to this upcoming week. CNN's Paul Steinhauser reports.

Candidates target crucial voting blocsupdated: Sun Jul 13 2008 17:11:00

Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are starting the week reaching out to two crucial voting blocs -- Hispanic and African-American voters.

Obama, McCain battle for Latino votersupdated: Wed Jul 09 2008 11:39:00

The fight for Hispanic voters took center stage Tuesday as Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama took their campaigns to Washington to address the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Latino cloutupdated: Wed Jul 09 2008 11:39:00

The battle for the Latino vote heats up between Sens. McCain and Obama, as CNN's Bill Schneider reports.

Commentary: Candidates wise to court Hispanic voteupdated: Mon Jul 07 2008 13:23:00

Whether the code word of the day is "patriotism," "liberation theology" or "working-class voters," some will continue to cast this presidential election in the tired old paradigm of black and white. But, I'd ask Barack Obama and John McCain to look beyond all that and consider: What can brown do for you?

Time.com: The Week in Politicsupdated: Sat Jun 14 2008 18:00:00

Hillary Clinton may have beaten Barack Obama by two to one in the race for Hispanic votes, but a new poll gives Obama a Latino lead over John McCain by the same margin

Obama and the Latino voteupdated: Sat Jun 14 2008 13:56:00

Is Sen. Barack Obama in jeopardy of losing the Latino vote in November? Lisa Sylvester reports.

Obama courts the Latino voteupdated: Sat Jun 14 2008 13:56:00

Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee for president, is looking to shore up support -- especially from Latinos.

Obama: Cuba policy based on 'libertad'updated: Tue May 27 2008 11:21:00

Sen. Barack Obama says the goals his Cuba policy would be to promote "libertad," or liberty, in the island nation.

Obama: Cuba policy to be based on 'libertad'updated: Tue May 27 2008 11:21:00

Sen. Barack Obama told Florida's Cuban-American community Friday that his Cuba policy would be based on "libertad" and freedom for the island nation's people.

McCain: I will fight for youupdated: Mon May 05 2008 21:10:00

Sen. John McCain talks about the Republican Party's message and reaching out to Hispanic voters.

McCain courts Hispanic votersupdated: Mon May 05 2008 21:10:00

Sen. John McCain said Monday the tenor of the immigration debate has hurt the way Hispanic voters view the Republican Party.

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