The recent Presidential election stressed the importance of the minority community, especially the Latino voters, in influencing the outcome of the election. The Latino community comprises approximately 10 percent of the electorate, and it has been estimated that over 70 percent voted for President Obama. Moreover, this number is expected to significantly increase for the next Presidential election. It has been reported that President Obama won the support of the Latino community with his DREAM Act, whereas Governor Romney’s self-deportation rhetoric was not received well by the Latino voters. As a result, the Republican Party has realized that it must broaden its base beyond white voters and has embraced the call, along with the Democrats, for immigration legislation as a priority. CNN’s David Gergen said it best on election night, there is reason for optimism about immigration reform in the next Congress, because “Democrats want it and Republicans now need it.”
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