A new survey of Hispanic registered voters conducted by 10 GOP-leaning pollsters suggests that more than a third of Hispanic voters self-identify as conservative or very conservative while another 28 percent say they’re moderate. And a majority have voted for a Republican candidate in the past. None of this comes as a surprise to those who have carefully studies Hispanic voting behavior over the last 40 years, but it flies in the face of fears in some circles that Hispanics are a lost cause when it comes to supporting conservative causes or candidates. Hispanic voters have a more favorable attitude toward government than conservatives usually do, but when asked whether they favor more government services if it means higher taxes, they overwhelmingly reject the notion, by more than two-to-one. A similarly large percentage of Hispanic voters say that government should promote opportunity not fairness. The study was published by FWD.us, a pro-immigration reform group. The poll also shows that immigration is an important gateway issue to Hispanic voters. Hispanics are for more likely to listen to a candidate’s message on other issues if he or she supports a path to citizenship for the 11 million unauthorized immigrants living here so long as they pay fines, back taxes and have a clean criminal record. In general, about a quarter of Hispanics say they will vote Republican regardless of the candidate’s position on immigration reform, and about 40 percent will vote Democratic under most circumstances. But the remaining third of Hispanic voters are the ones the GOP needs if it is to win the White House, and without those swing voters, Republicans may be doomed for a generation or more.
