# Why are Hispanic voters overwhelmingly choosing Clinton over Obama? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 6, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537 "2008-02-06T16:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/41 "2008-02-06T22:05:50Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] (shrug) Hispanics are quite obviously voting for what they perceive to be the best interests of their race. They are practicing racial politics. Anyone who professes not to see this is working very, very hard to deny reality. [/QUOTE] Arguable, perhaps, if they usually vote as a bloc. Do they? (I know Cubans usually vote Republican.) ---
**Author:** ![jaydotbeedot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jaydotbeedot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaydotbeedot)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/42 "2008-02-06T22:15:24Z")
[QUOTE=Grey area] Beyond the Clinton fandom, my WAG is that Hispanics are generally more open to having a woman in power. [/QUOTE] One of the analysts on last night (can’t recall who) said that historically it’s been difficult to get Hispanic men to vote for any woman. Whether that’s true, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/43 "2008-02-06T22:24:50Z")
Esteban Colberto has **got** to do something with this . . . ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/44 "2008-02-06T22:25:13Z")
[QUOTE=xtisme] I think Richardson wants to position himself as a possible VP choice…so I think he will hold out his endorsement until he knows for sure which way the wind blows. -XT [/QUOTE] Ahhh so by that rationale whomever Richardson decides to endorse, if anybody, that they would be the next POTUS? Most likely? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/45 "2008-02-06T22:28:25Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] Ahhh so by that rationale whomever Richardson decides to endorse, if anybody, that they would be the next POTUS? Most likely? [/QUOTE] No – his endorsement could swing votes in New Mexico, but they had their primary yesterday. Too late now. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/46 "2008-02-07T00:45:23Z")
All this speculation and accusations of racism appear to be moot, considering that > [@](#): > > Analysis of Latino voting patterns indicates that Latinos did not, as predicted, march monolithically into the voting booths to vote racially black or white. Instead, the Latino vote segmented along other vectors, the most interesting of which is the regional vector. [Interesting article](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roberto-lovato/clintons-latino-advantag_b_85243.html). ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/47 "2008-02-07T01:56:25Z")
Which makes sense since there really is not monolithic Hispanic (Latino though I hate that term myself) community. It’s definitely going to vary by region. -XT ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/48 "2008-02-07T03:06:21Z")
Agreed with **BG**. Richardson has shown why he is not presidential timber. He couldn’t decide to act. From his statements he clearly admired Obama more and saw that endorsing Obama could make a difference, not only in the election but in building bridges between Latino and the Black communities. He just allowed himself to be pressured into non-action. Yet he didn’t even have the spine to throw his lot in with HRC all the way. In trying to straddle both ways he ends up with a great shot at nothing. He is now irrelevant. Great resume though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/49 "2008-02-07T03:09:38Z")
Speaking for my Latina girlfriend, immigration is a key issue for her. She thinks that Hillary is far better on this issue than Obama. End of story. ---
**Author:** ![JohnnieEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@JohnnieEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnieEnigma)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/50 "2008-02-07T03:10:39Z")
[QUOTE=Reloy3] One clear trend from the primaries is that Hispanic Democrats are voting overwhelmingly for Clinton over Obama. Why? I must admit that I dont exactly have my finger on the pulse of the Hispanic electorate, but to my gringo eyes, I don’t see anything that would recommend Clinton over Obama. What am I missing? [/QUOTE] I don’t know. Hillary had the lead in hispanic and Asian votes; Obama had the lead in Black and White votes. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/51 "2008-02-07T04:13:05Z")
[QUOTE=xtisme] Which makes sense since there really is not monolithic Hispanic (Latino though I hate that term myself) community. It’s definitely going to vary by region. -XT [/QUOTE] How is it that New Mexicans use the term Hispanic and it seems that the rest of the county uses Latino anyway? You’re not the first Hispanic I’ve heard say that he hates the term Latino. And in this state, it sure seems like you’d be more likely to hear Chicano used than Latino, but neither used nearly as often as Hispanic. I always figured it had something to do with the history of the area. Note: I also use the term Hispanic and never Latino. Heck, Latino just jars me somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/52 "2008-02-07T04:23:02Z")
[QUOTE=Frostillicus] Speaking for my Latina girlfriend, immigration is a key issue for her. She thinks that Hillary is far better on this issue than Obama. End of story. [/QUOTE] Given what went down in 1996, I wouldn’t be surprised by this feeling. But it represents a vulnerability of Clinton’s among other voters. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/53 "2008-02-07T04:32:01Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] Given what went down in 1996, I wouldn’t be surprised by this feeling. But it represents a vulnerability of Clinton’s among other voters. [/QUOTE] Or how about [what went down](http://members.fortunecity.com/cynetix/pa/fun/wassup.html) late in Clinton’s presidency? Warning: Link goes to Flash with sound but is otherwise SFW. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/54 "2008-02-07T04:37:24Z")
[QUOTE=asterion] How is it that New Mexicans use the term Hispanic and it seems that the rest of the county uses Latino anyway? You’re not the first Hispanic I’ve heard say that he hates the term Latino. And in this state, it sure seems like you’d be more likely to hear Chicano used than Latino, but neither used nearly as often as Hispanic. I always figured it had something to do with the history of the area. [/QUOTE] I don’t know if it’s a South West thing (I actually grew up in Arizona) or what. When I was growing up (to me) Latino was the equivalent of ‘Negro’. A lot of the time when that term was directed at me it was either in a condescending voice or in a way that was derogatory but I wasn’t supposed to know it…if that makes sense. It’s a generational thing to. A lot of my younger cousins say I shouldn’t use the term, that it’s derogatory in itself (part of the rejection of our Spanish roots, and all the evils of the Spanish empire, blah blah blah). Some of my family are quite radically Hispanic…as in they want to make the South West it’s own country type radical. Anyway, as with any label, some terms rub some people the wrong way because of past experience…and terms change with generations. When I was a kid calling a black a ‘nigger’ was likely to get you cut. Calling a person of Hispanic blood a ‘Chicano’ or ‘Latino’ was likely to get you the same thing. Now I hear those terms tossed around casually, usually by someone of that supposed race. I’m just getting old… -XT ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537/55 "2008-02-07T05:12:57Z")
[QUOTE=asterion] How is it that New Mexicans use the term Hispanic and it seems that the rest of the county uses Latino anyway? You’re not the first Hispanic I’ve heard say that he hates the term Latino. And in this state, it sure seems like you’d be more likely to hear Chicano used than Latino, but neither used nearly as often as Hispanic. I always figured it had something to do with the history of the area. Note: I also use the term Hispanic and never Latino. Heck, Latino just jars me somehow. [/QUOTE] I agree with [_Michael Barone:_](http://www.amazon.com/New-Americans-Melting-Work-Again/dp/1596980265/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202361126&sr=8-5) “Latino” is the preferable term because it (1) includes Brazilians and (2) does not implicitly include European Spaniards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537.md?page=2)