Gallup: Hispanics across all generations tilt heavily Democratic

{mosads}Democrats maintain a sizable advantage among voters ages 30 to 49, with 22 percent identifying as Republicans, an identical number as independents, and 48 percent as Democrats. Among middle-aged Hispanics, 69 percent approve of the president.

Those aged 50 to 64 back Democrats over Republicans by a 57 percent to 21 percent margin, with 15 percent saying they are independents. The margin grows among those over age 65, with 59 percent identifying as Democrats, 21 percent saying they are Republicans and 12 percent claiming to be independents.

President Obama enjoys 70 percent approval among those 50 to 64, and 62 percent support among Hispanic seniors. In the 2012 election, the president won 71 percent of the Hispanic vote, according to exit polls.

The figures paint a concerning figure for Republican lawmakers, especially as demographic surveys show the Hispanic share of the total American population growing.

“Assuming that today’s party preference patterns hold in the future, the young voting-age population of the future will thus be more Democratic in its political orientation than is the case today,” said Gallup’s Frank Newport and Joy Wilke in a statement.

Still, the pollsters say it’s possible that the Hispanic boom won’t help Democrats as much as some pundits expect.

“The extent to which the increase in the Hispanic proportion of the young adult population pays off for Democratic candidates in actual voting remains to be seen, because Hispanic registration and voter turnout in national elections has historically been significantly lower than that of other segments of the population,” they said.

Moreover, Hispanic attitudes could change depending on how pivotal issues like the immigration battle play out, or the possible nomination of a prominent Hispanic — like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — to a presidential ticket.

“The best-case scenario for Democrats is a continuation of the substantial Democratic tilt in political identification among Hispanics in the years ahead and a simultaneous increase in their political participation,” the pollsters say. “The best scenario for Republicans would be a transformative event — such as the nomination of a popular Hispanic Republican candidate for president — that diminishes Hispanics’ attachment to the Democratic Party, or, failing that, a continuation of Hispanics’ relatively low levels of political activity.”