2012 Top Moments in Latino Politics, #1

By Jose Cruz, Our Tiempo

#1, 2012 Election Day

For the first time in history, the Latino “sleeping giant” woke up and played a decisive part in electing the U.S. President. Exit polls showed Obama won the Hispanic vote by 70 to 75%. Exit polls placed Romney at winning 29 percent of the Latino vote, which is lower than Republican candidates received in 2008, 2004, and 2000. The lowest percentage of Latino voters won by a Republican was in 1996, when Bob Dole garnered only 21 percent of Latinos to former President Bill Clinton’s record 72 percent.

The Latino vote proved critical in swing states, such as Colorado and Florida.

This article was first published in Our Tiempo.

Jose Cruz is a Puerto Rican/Irish multi-city/multi-hat guru at OurTiempo.com. An online entrepreneur, Jose is the in house editor and writer. With a background in politics and a career that includes a law degree, the Clinton White House and managing and developing websites geared at the Latino community, his tastes are as diverse as his work. Just at home diving into a Chicago Deep Dish Pizza to munching on a Fish Taco in East LA. Twitter: @JoseCruz2000