The choice of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court is in part a shrewd political move by President Barack Obama that underscores the growing clout of Hispanics and could bind them more tightly to Democrats.
“This will be seen as a historically important appointment, and it will help solidify the support of the Latino community behind President Obama,” said Janet Murguía, president of the National Council of La Raza, a Latino civil-rights organization.
The fast-growing Hispanic voting block — which grew to nearly 9% last year from 7% in 2000 — has been wooed heavily by both parties in recent years.
President Obama’s strong support from Hispanic voters in 2008 reversed a trend that had seen some Hispanic voters moving Republican under President George W. Bush. In the 2004 campaign, Mr. Bush won 44% of the Hispanic vote. That was less than Democrat John Kerry, who won 53%, but up substantially from 2000.
Source: WSJ
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