I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
According to the Center for American Progress (CAP), a liberal Washington D.C. think tank, the Latino vote will be key in New Mexico and several other states with close electoral races looming in November. New Mexico has the highest percentage of registered Latino voters at 32.6 percent. California and Texas are the only other two states with percentages higher than 20.
In addition to high profile statewide races throughout the country, those for governor or U.S. Senate, CAP highlighted U.S. House of Representatives races including New Mexico’s 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts.
The report says that Latinos are still favoring Democrats, but the lack of movement on a comprehensive immigration law has hurt Democrats among this key constituency.
“The challenge for Democrats is that their candidates in swing states or House districts are playing defense on immigration against Republicans’ hard-charging rhetoric,” the report reads. “The big question for Democrats in 2012 will be whether just trying on immigration will be enough, or whether their fear to act on the issue will hurt them with Latino voters until that task is done.”
While there have been indications that Latinos across the country have been less enthusiastic about voting than they have in past elections, polls have found enthusiasm for voting among Latinos growing on a weekly basis.
“The Republican Party has tried to downplay its draconian immigration policies by highlighting the ethnic backgrounds of its Latino candidates in order to attract Latino voters,” CAP wrote. “The Republican gubernatorial candidates in Nevada and New Mexico are Hispanic, as is their senatorial nominee in Florida.”
