President Barack Obama continues to be extremely popular among Latino voters nationwide and receives particularly strong backing from naturalized citizens, according to a new poll by Impremedia, Latino Decisions and the University of New Mexico´s Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
A survey of Latino voters found that 74% approve of the President -39% approve strongly- and that support goes even higher, up to 79%, among foreign-born Latinos.
Congress elicits less enthusiasm, but still has a respectable 52% approval rate and again, naturalized citizens have a rosier view of its performance, with 60% support.
But the survey also indicates these voters expect action on two issues they consider top priorities and where the Obama administration is trying or intending to make new legislation: health care reform and immigration. Latinos continue to be hopeful about the administration in general, with higher approval ratings of the President and Congress than the general public, but that strong support could start to falter next year.
The survey was conducted November 1 through 14 among 1,000 Latino voters nationwide.
The poll found that health care reform and immigration reform hold great importance for these voters and they expect both to have been addressed by next year´s mid- term elections.
A total of 84% think it´s important, very important or extremely important that immigration reform is enacted by that date and 86% think the same about health care reform.
That solid basis of support could start to fall apart if there are no results in these priority issues, said University of Washington political science professor and Latino Decisions partner, Matt Barreto.
"Latinos are focusing on these two issues. If there is no health care reform, with a public option that is strongly backed by them (see main story), they will turn their attention to immigration reform. If there is no immigration reform then we will have two failures of the administration on those important priorities. I think we will see a discouraged voter that will probably abstain from voting in 2010 for the most part," he added.
These voters agree with the administration that health care should go first, something that was initially controversial because then-candidate Obama had promised immigration reform in the first year of his administration. Both issues are very important to Latinos, but 67% think that health care should go first.
About 73% think that health care reform should be finished before the 2010 elections and 84% believe the same about immigration reform.
But Latinos definitely don´t think immigration reform can be postponed indefinitely. If it doesn´t happen before November 2010, only about 42% would think it´s understandable and 28% would say the president reneged on his promise. Another 26% would see a combination of both. The consequences for Democrats could be dire.
Without reform, 56% of Latinos say they will stay with the Democrats and Obama in 2012, but another 34% say that they would vote against the Democrats. Experts believe that could lead to abstentionism in future elections.
"Latinos are willing to give the President a temporary pass, to give him time to meet his promises. But without results in one or both of these we would see great disillusionment among Latinos, among the most enthusiastic of his supporters," indicated Gary Segura, political science professor at the University of Washington and a partner in Latino Decisions.
Among those surveyed, 58% identified themselves as Democrats, 20% said they were independent and a mere 16% self identified as Republican.
Luis Mora, a resident of Jacksonville Florida, says he expects action on health care and immigration, as well as the economy, to continue support for the President.
"I don´t have health coverage and I am also not the only one among my family and friends who is unemployed and unable to find a job," said Mora in a phone interview. "If the situation doesn´t improve, I am not sure I can say I will support the President in the future".
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President Barack Obama continues to be extremely popular among Latino voters nationwide and receives particularly strong backing from naturalized citizens, according to a new poll by Impremedia, Latino Decisions and the University of New Mexico´s Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
A survey of Latino voters found that 74% approve of the President -39% approve strongly- and that support goes even higher, up to 79%, among foreign-born Latinos.
Congress elicits less enthusiasm, but still has a respectable 52% approval rate and again, naturalized citizens have a rosier view of its performance, with 60% support.
But the survey also indicates these voters expect action on two issues they consider top priorities and where the Obama administration is trying or intending to make new legislation: health care reform and immigration. Latinos continue to be hopeful about the administration in general, with higher approval ratings of the President and Congress than the general public, but that strong support could start to falter next year.
The survey was conducted November 1 through 14 among 1,000 Latino voters nationwide.
The poll found that health care reform and immigration reform hold great importance for these voters and they expect both to have been addressed by next year´s mid- term elections.
A total of 84% think it´s important, very important or extremely important that immigration reform is enacted by that date and 86% think the same about health care reform.
That solid basis of support could start to fall apart if there are no results in these priority issues, said University of Washington political science professor and Latino Decisions partner, Matt Barreto.
"Latinos are focusing on these two issues. If there is no health care reform, with a public option that is strongly backed by them (see main story), they will turn their attention to immigration reform. If there is no immigration reform then we will have two failures of the administration on those important priorities. I think we will see a discouraged voter that will probably abstain from voting in 2010 for the most part," he added.
