Poll: Republicans Make Gains Among Hispanic Voters

Republicans are making inroads among Hispanic voters, with 27 percent saying they either identify or lean toward the GOP, a new Pew Research Center poll released Wednesday shows.

In 2012, 22 percent said the same, the pollster noted.

Though 57 percent of Hispanic voters responded that they either favor or lean Democrat, the pollster noted that's down from 65 percent in 2010.

The pollster noted the diminished influence of Democrats with Latino voters could be the result of inaction on immigration reform. Latino leaders had warned that President Barack Obama's decision to back down from his promises to take executive action on reform until after the midterm elections could backfire.

Obama promised in June he'd announce unilateral measures by summer's end if Congress did not enact reform legislation.

The importance of the Latino vote has grown as the Hispanic population in the United States has expanded, The Hill notes, noting Latinos were part of the broad coalition that swept Obama to re-election in 2012.

The margin of error for the poll was plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.

Related Stories:

• Poll: Hispanic Voters Largely Don't Care If GOP Wins Senate
• Colo. Senate: Udall Looks for Late Surge From Youth, Latino Vote