Dems see immigration as key to some battlegrounds

Democrats will make immigration reform a prominent discussion at their convention in Denver, hoping to capitalize on anger that many Hispanic voters feel toward GOP support of strict curbs on immigration.

Democrats believe that Hispanic voters will play a pivotal role in battleground states such as Colorado, Florida, Nevada and New Mexico, which President Bush won in 2004 in part because of a stronger-than-expected performance among Hispanic voters.

{mosads}“McCain is in a much weaker position with Hispanics,” said Simon Rosenberg, president of NDN, the political action arm of the New Democrat movement, in reference to Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the expected Republican nominee.

“The Southwestern states and Florida are up for grabs because of erosion of Republican brand in the Latino community,” said Rosenberg. “That’s driven by the immigration debate. The way Republicans handled the immigration debate was one of the most extraordinary political mistakes a party has made in recent times.

“The way Hispanics have been alienated because of immigration has made it much more difficult for McCain to win the election,” Rosenberg added.

Many Hispanic and immigrant advocacy groups supported immigration reform legislation that Democrats, led by Sen. Ted Kennedy (Mass.), pushed in the 109th Congress. Conservative Republicans used the power of the filibuster to defeat the bipartisan proposal, which would have created a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

McCain worked with Kennedy to craft the proposal but later backed away from it during the Republican presidential primary when his opponents attacked him for supporting the measure, which many conservative activists opposed.

Democrats will attempt to send a clear message of their support for creating a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants at their convention in Denver.

The NDN and prominent Democrats including Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Judiciary subcommittee with primary oversight of immigration, will hold a forum on Monday in Denver entitled “Immigration Reform and the Next Administration.” Lofgren is expected to play an important role in crafting any immigration reform proposals Congress may take up next year.

Democrats know that Hispanic political leaders will be paying close attention to their election-year promises on immigration. Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, a leading Hispanic advocacy group, will attend the Monday forum on reform.

Democrats view Hispanic voters as an important bloc in the presidential contest and in competitive House races.

“This cycle we’re competing in a number of districts that have significant Hispanic populations,” said Doug Thornell, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

These voters will be crucial in three open-seat races in New Mexico and four House races in Arizona.

Democrats have targeted Arizona’s 1st and 3rd congressional districts, held by retiring Rep. Rick Renzi (R) and Rep. John Shadegg (R), respectively.

Vulnerable Democratic freshman are facing re-election in Arizona’s 5th and 8th congressional districts.

Hispanic voters will prove decisive in three competitive Florida races — those to unseat GOP Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in Florida’s 18th district and GOP Reps. Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart in the 21st and 25th districts.

Democratic candidates are promising to address immigration reform in the next Congress, when they expect to hold bigger majorities in the House and Senate and perhaps control the White House.

“Democrats are saying the system is broken and needs to be fixed and Republicans were in the majority and couldn’t get it done,” said a Democratic strategist who works with House candidates. “The president was in office for eight years and couldn’t persuade Republicans to come to any agreement on the issue.

“Candidates recognize the system is broken and are committing to addressing it when they get into office,” said the strategist.

Research by Bendixen & Associates, a public opinion research firm based in Miami, shows that 48 percent of the Hispanic electorate in 2004 was born in foreign countries or Puerto Rico.

Exit polls from 2006 showed that Hispanics made up about 30 percent of voters in New Mexico, 13 percent of voters in Nevada, 12 percent in Arizona, and 11 percent in Florida.