The question of who wins Florida's Republican Latino vote could determine who wins the Florida primary Tuesday. Polls show Mitt Romney in front, but Newt Gingrich is not out of it.?
Heading into Tuesday?s pivotal GOP primary in Florida, Mitt Romney clearly has stronger support than Newt Gingrich among the state?s influential Republican Latino community.
Skip to next paragraphIt was evident on Friday, when an energized Mr. Romney got a more enthusiastic reception than Mr. Gingrich at a conference near Miami of the Hispanic Leadership Network, an advocacy group founded by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R).
A recent survey bears that out. Forty-nine percent of Latino likely voters in Florida?s Republican primary back Romney, with Gingrich coming in a distant second at 23 percent, according to a poll by Latino Decisions for ABC News and Univision. Eleven percent of the Republican primary electorate is Latino, and in a close race, could tip the scales.??
Romney is also supported by four of the state?s most prominent Latino politicians ? all of them Cuban-American, the largest subgroup of Florida?s 1.5 million Hispanics. Former Sen. Mel Martinez is honorary co-chair of Romney?s National Hispanic Steering Committee, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, and his brother, former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, are all committee co-chairs.
In addition, Romney announced Friday the endorsement of the Republican governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortu?o. Puerto Ricans represent the second largest segment of Florida Latinos.
So why more enthusiasm for Romney than Gingrich or the other Republican candidates still in the race? In a word, it?s Romney?s career in the private sector, which appeals to entrepreneurial-minded Hispanics.
?I was for Herman Cain, then when he dropped out, I switched to Mitt Romney,? says Frank Diaz of Miami, who owns a public relations and marketing firm with his wife. ?I am sympathetic to business owners.?
Mr. Diaz also sees Romney as more electable ? or as he puts it, having more appeal to ?mainstream voters? ? than Gingrich. His wife, Susy Alvarez-Diaz, also supports Romney, citing his articulation of issues in global terms.
In their remarks to the Hispanic Leadership Network, both Romney and Gingrich spoke of their support for a Cuba liberated from Communist rule, enhanced trade with Latin America, and support for immigration reform.
But on that last issue, it is Gingrich?s emphasis on finding what he calls a ?humane? way to deal with illegal immigration ? particularly law-abiding people who have been in the country a long time ? that leads some of Florida?s Latino Republicans to back the former House speaker.
Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera, economic developer for the city of Doral, is one such Gingrich supporter. ?There are plenty of people who are here illegally who have proven themselves,? Ms. Rodriguez Aguilera says. ?They pay their taxes, they?re making America stronger.?
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