Poll: McCain, Obama tied among state’s Hispanics

September 10th, 2008 | Category: Florida Politics Blog

USA Today: "WASHINGTON — New info released at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s annual assembly Tuesday show that the Latino vote could be "crucial" for Barack Obama to win that fall, pollster Sergio Bendixen said.

In three of four battleground states where Hispanics build up at least 10% of the voting population, Obama had a distinct advantage by Republican John McCain among Hispanic voters, according to polls Bendixen took for NDN, a Democratic think tank. … NDN

President Simon Rosenberg said the findings are meaningful considering in 2004 "the key to George Bush’s victory was his success with Latinos." Rosenberg said he believes final year’s immigration debate "fundamentally altered" Hispanic support for Republican candidates.

Florida: In the state that decided the 2000 presidential race, the poll found McCain and Obama tied among Hispanic voters at 42% each and among non-Hispanic voters at 43%.