Republicans “Lousy” With Latino Outreach

According to a senior Republican strategist, the party organization has been “lousy” with its outreach to Latinos. The Hill reported something that we all already know when Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus told them the party had done a “lousy job” reaching out to this particular constituency. The Hill went on to report:

“We have had great success in this party with Hispanic candidates and Hispanic voters. We just do a lousy job of talking about it, and I hope to start,” Priebus said. “Over the next couple of years, I want to start a conversation with voters around this country to show that Republicans are the proper home for Hispanic voters.”

Priebus singled out a slew of prominent Hispanic GOP politicians, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval.

The story goes on to talk more about Priebus’ background, he’s from Wisconsin, and about immigration reform. Principally, how the GOP can step around having to support immigration reform while simultaneously courting Latino voters. This is not an impossibility.

Remember 2012? Was it that Democrats didn’t mobilize Latino voters or that the Republicans did? Either way, each party has the chance to lose the Latino vote in 2012 if they don’t play their cards right. These voters must be mobilized, but to do that, not only do you need to invest in outreach — you also need to invest in a message that’s palatable to them.

Whether the Republicans or Democrats do this is a matter of strategy and far and beyond anything we at News Taco can control, but we intend to let you know the outcome.

Follow Sara Inés Calderón on Twitter @SaraChicaD