The poll, carried out in English and Spanish, shows that support among Latinos fell from 69% to 57% from January through May. During the same time frame, support among whites remained at 41% while African American support for the nation’s first black president was at 91%.
Although a majority of Latinos say they continue to support Obama, the level of support tends to vary as the immigration-overhaul issue moves up and down in the public debate. For example, Obama in April said he doubted
there was an appetite in the Senate to deal with immigration reform, leading to his low numbers by May.
Obama has recently upped his rhetoric in dealing with border issues, in part because of the new Arizona law that broadens police powers to ask illegal immigrants for documentation. The president has condemned the law and
has ordered the Justice Department to monitor enforcement for possible civil rights violations.
But Obama has also stepped up the nation’s role in dealing with border security, pledging 1,200 National Guard troops and $500 million to be sent to border areas to deal with drug- and people-smuggling. READ FULL STORY
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