Arizona Seesaw 2012
AL DÍA, Feb. 27 2012
MESA, Arizona — If there’s anything to take away from the Republican Presidential primary debate staged here Feb. 22, it is that Arizona is on the precipice of shifting from a traditionally red — conservative Republican — state to a battleground one, with the Latino vote as the crucial ingredient.
While the results of the Feb. 28 GOP primaries here in Arizona and in Michigan have yet to play out, Francisco Heredia, director of Mi Familia Vota Arizona, vouches, “This year is shaping up to be one where Latinos can show our political strength.”
In Arizona?
Yes, in Arizona
Hispanic political involvement in here is increasing as dramatically, maybe even more, than its population is surging.
Three years ago, GOP presidential candidate John McCain, Arizona’s senior senator, outpolled Barack Obama here by eight points, 53 percent-45 percent. A Public Policy Polling survey released Feb. 22 showed Obama’s reelection prospects to be improving in recent months. He runs virtually even when pitted against any of his potential Republican opponents.
MESA, Arizona — If there’s anything to take away from the Republican Presidential primary debate staged here Feb. 22, it is that Arizona is on the precipice of shifting from a traditionally red — conservative Republican — state to a battleground one, with the Latino vote as the crucial ingredient.
While the results of the Feb. 28 GOP primaries here in Arizona and in Michigan have yet to play out, Francisco Heredia, director of Mi Familia Vota Arizona, vouches, “This year is shaping up to be one where Latinos can show our political strength.”
In Arizona?
Yes, in Arizona
Hispanic political involvement in here is increasing as dramatically, maybe even more, than its population is surging.
Three years ago, GOP presidential candidate John McCain, Arizona’s senior senator, outpolled Barack Obama here by eight points, 53 percent-45 percent. A Public Policy Polling survey released Feb. 22 showed Obama’s reelection prospects to be improving in recent months. He runs virtually even when pitted against any of his potential Republican opponents.
New Arizona target: ethnic studies
AL DÍA, May 18 2010
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer stirred already troubled waters May 11 when she approved a bill that targets for elimination ethnic studies programs in the state’s public schools.
Its framer, state school superintendent Tom Horne, contends that the measure in no way singles out Latinos, but rather promotes social and ethnic integration.
In a May 14 interview with Hispanic Link News Service, Horne said he has worked tirelessly to distance the ethnic studies bill from SB1070, which is being challenged in court as anti-immigrant and unconstitutional by Hispanic and civil rights groups.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer stirred already troubled waters May 11 when she approved a bill that targets for elimination ethnic studies programs in the state’s public schools.
Its framer, state school superintendent Tom Horne, contends that the measure in no way singles out Latinos, but rather promotes social and ethnic integration.
In a May 14 interview with Hispanic Link News Service, Horne said he has worked tirelessly to distance the ethnic studies bill from SB1070, which is being challenged in court as anti-immigrant and unconstitutional by Hispanic and civil rights groups.