Latinos favor Clinton, campaign says

05/30/2007

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign touted the New York Democrat's popularity with Latino voters Wednesday, the same day Los Angles Mayor and prominent Latino Antonio Villaraigosa is set to endorse Clinton's bid for the White House.

"Today's key endorsement from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is proof that the Clinton Campaign's focus and strategy to win the Latino vote continues to grow stronger," Clinton pollsters Mark Penn and Sergio Bendixen wrote in a campaign memo.

The memo cites a Latino Policy Coalition-Lake Research Partners Poll conducted in March that indicates Clinton is the clear favorite among Latino Democratic voters, holding a near 50 percentage point edge over Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, 60 percent to 12 percent. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Latino himself, comes in third with 9 percent, and former Sen. John Edwards places fourth with 7 percent.

"Hillary Clinton's support of sensible immigration reform, including earned citizenship and family reunification has helped her win strong support in the Latino community," the memo states. "Her support for universal health care, a higher minimum wage, universal pre-kindergarten and full funding for Head Start also help explain why she is so popular among Latinos."