October 12, 2007
Posted: 08:00 AM ET

Sen. Harry Reid predicted Hispanics will back Democrats in 2008.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Hispanic vote is key to winning Nevada in 2008, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters Thursday in a conference call. And the Nevada Democrat predicted that this important voting bloc will back his party’s presidential nominee next year.

Reid claimed the Democratic Party’s outreach efforts to the Hispanic community, as well as the Republican Party’s stand on immigration reform will drive Hispanic voters away from the GOP.

In Nevada, Reid said Democrats have been using "creative" methods to reach out to potential voters such as starting an adult soccer team and creating a Spanish language Web site.

“The potential power is already there,” said Reid, who added, “Any candidate that wants to win Nevada has to carry the Hispanic vote.”

National Democrats have also elevated Nevada onto a special stage by sanctioning it as one of the first four states to hold a presidential nominating contest in 2008. And next month, Las Vegas will host a Democratic National Committee presidential debate that will be televised on CNN.

– CNN Associate Producer Lauren Kornreich

Filed under: Harry Reid • Hispanic • Uncategorized


Bill Henderson, Frankfort, Ky.   October 16th, 2007 12:24 pm ET

Harry Reid, in my opinion, has done this country great harm by his disservice comments while serving in the Senate. His disservice is clearly evidenced by his recent and past negative comments. His actions has done such damage to our country by such a degree that is larger than any traitor ever, punished and or unpunished, ever recorded in the history of the United States.

Harry Reid should go back to Nevada and flush himself down the toilet. Harry Reid makes me sick of the people associated with the Democratic Party,

At best, Harry Reid is a manic who should be placed in a nut house somewhere in his home state.

He makes me ashamed of the years I spent in the service of this country.

John Chicago   October 15th, 2007 10:49 am ET

How does this evil lil man even look in the mirror. I would spit in this worthless mans face if I could.

Gilbert Montemayor, La Poter Texas   October 14th, 2007 1:31 pm ET

If only they would vote but, history shows that thay do not come out in great numbers.

RJS, Rio Rancho,NM   October 13th, 2007 9:02 pm ET

It's time the moral-majority Republicans get rid of those hate-mongering, right-wing neo-NAZIs wanna-be's who despise anyone who causes them fear if they are not of the same race as them(like a lot of those that have submitted comments here). Otherwise, their party will suffer the consequence in future elections.

Lance in Monrovia CA   October 13th, 2007 12:54 pm ET

I spent a weekend canvassing for Obama at a Latino Festival in Las Vegas. We spoke to at least two hundred Democrats. Not a single Hillary supporter, and a lot of Hispanics that are still not involved in the process but very open to learning more about Obama. It was painstaking, person by person conversations. We did find a bunch of people actually excited about Obama in Nevada and these were people that will actually caucaus for him. It is this kind of outreach, person by person, that will bring the Hispanics into democratic camp by the caucuas, and specifically into the camp of Senator Obama. He has the most highly organized campaign there, the most excited volunteers with the most knowledge, and in general the people there really don't trust Hillary. They think she's the same old thing and they respond to having a real leader running for a change in Obama.

Obama will take Nevada in the caucaus. He will also surely take South Carolina, as the black vote is already swinging his way there. He will finish first or second in New Hampshire and Iowa, and then he will have more funds than any candidate in history, including Hillary, to sustain his campaign throughout Feb 5th super tuesday primaries nation wide.

I personally saw about 300 volunteers working from out of state that weekend, and I've heard there's been many, many more in Nevada since. There was probably twice that number from local areas working. the numbers are sure to grow as we get closer.

Obama will actually win and will hands down be the one to bring Hispanics into the race. Afterall, he himself is the son of an immigrant and represents the ultimate American Dream.

Joe, Florida   October 13th, 2007 11:55 am ET

It is the Truth!

Chico,Bloomington,In   October 13th, 2007 1:13 am ET

So you let the cat out of the bag Harry!,…this is why you don't want ID's to vote,..then you wont get the illegal alien vote!…You know that Arizona will NOT vote for you this next election,..so in other words.."If I don't vlock voter ID and put up a fence I wont get votes!"

Don Fitzgerald, Chicago   October 12th, 2007 11:12 pm ET

If you vote for the Republicans in the next election, you should have your head examined. They have seriously damaged this nation, more so than Al Quida ever did! Get rid of the Bums, vote Democratic!!

SEAL OWEN , Kansas City, Mo.   October 12th, 2007 11:09 pm ET

Im sick of liberals excusing the following -

Islamo-fascist hate

Tax hikes all across the board

Anti American sentiment\\

Anti-military sentiment

Illegal immigration

People had better WAKE UP and realize that despite people saying that George Bush is "ruining" our country, it's not true ! Yes, we're at war, but we will be at war until we smash radical Islam here, there and everywhere it exists. Republicans rise up AND vote IN 08 ! !

ronnie - knoxville, tn.   October 12th, 2007 11:05 pm ET

Colony 14 person - I like your analogy of parasites and producers. I work my butt off to produce as many taxes as possible to support those parasites. And I tell ya, Those Dems are slippery with the taxes- even sales taxes are creeping up, not to mention payroll taxes, utility taxes. . .

PAM, HOUSTON   October 12th, 2007 9:05 pm ET

GET OFF THE CRACK HARRY!! YOU ARE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY!!!!!!!

laurinda,ny   October 12th, 2007 7:30 pm ET

Ya know, I really can't recall all these masses of Mexican's coming across the borders before. Do you think that Bush and Fox worked out some kind of deal? Bush wouldn't do that without telling us, would he?

Van, phoenix arizona   October 12th, 2007 5:00 pm ET

Harry Reid…La Raza's (The Race) best friend..bought and paid for by a racist hate group..how pathetic. And at whose expense?? The LEGAL AMERICAN TAXPAYERS..WAKE UP NEVADA. Get rid of this traitor and vote for those who truly care about this nation and are willing to stop the invasion. Vote Republican!

Colony 14 author, Mount Prospect, Illinois   October 12th, 2007 3:58 pm ET

Oh, I'm so thrilled the dems are "…creating a Spanish language web site." I assume it will give tips on how to avoid border guards, where to sign up for generous benefits paid for by American taxpayers, how to get your newborn baby that $5,000 Hillary is offering as an election bribe, and how to vote for Harry Reid even if you're not an American citizen.

At some point the parasites will greatly outnumber the producers, and the producers will finally give up producing. I assume at that point, after the democrats have killed the goose, they will chastise it for not having laid more golden egss while it was in its death throes.

Kim, Saugus MA   October 12th, 2007 2:34 pm ET

Of course !!

His motivation is to boalster his party — even at the cost of selling out to this Country by allowing masses of illegals within this nation !!

Check out Grasso's Plan for illegal Immigration!

http://www.grassoforpresident.com/Immigration.aspx

Enought of the political SPIN!

FREE Ramos and Compean NOW - SENATOR!

http://www.grassoforpresident.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=11853&mname=Article&rpid=3727

ronnie - knoxvillle tn   October 12th, 2007 2:32 pm ET

Of course they will be blue in '08. Letting them slide on immigration regulations, giving them free health care and allowing them citizenship without taxing taxes from their paychecks are good reasons for them to vote for Democrats.

Bob, Seattle, WA   October 12th, 2007 1:51 pm ET

Author: President Theodore Roosevelt in a letter to the American Defense Society in 1919, ten years after he left the White House.

“In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American…….

There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who ssays he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile…. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language…and we have room for but on sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

Bob, Seattle, WA   October 12th, 2007 1:17 pm ET

Reid has demonstrated while being the Senator from Nevada that his loyatlies are 'bought and paid for'. He has continued this demonstration while being Senate Majority Leader. A shameful excuse for a public overseer. Another shameful show of begging as the rich who scheme to be rich beg the poor that they keep poor for their votes so the same old show can keep on playing reruns.

Manny, Springer, NM   October 12th, 2007 11:50 am ET

The majority of native-born Hispanics do support amnesty for illegal immigrants. Most of the time we vote as a block and vote Democratic. I have always voted Democratic, as has my father and his father before him. We have nothing in common with the GOP.

RA The Framing Wizard LV, NV   October 12th, 2007 11:25 am ET

15 Reasons not to vote the Great State of Nevada blue.

1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year.

2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens.

3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.

4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English!

5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.

6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens.

7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens.

8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare & social services by the American taxpayers.

9. $200 Billion Dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens.

10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime… rate that's two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the United States.

11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, myth, heroine and marijuana, crossed into the U. S. from the Southern border. Homeland Security Report:

12. The National Policy Institute "estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period."

13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin.

14. "The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants in the United States ".

15. The American people have recognized that illegal immigration has continued with much of our written laws have not been enforced for decades as if it were legal immigration today. So this should make the legal American people stop to think and ask our selves this question. How many illegal immigrants will share our opportunities too have a say in our democratic system to vote any state blue?

So using the LOWEST estimates, the annual cost OF ILLEGAL ALIENS is $338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! So if deporting them costs between $206 and $230 BILLION DOLLARS, Hell get rid of em', we’ll be ahead after the 1st year!!!

America needs to wake up!

Mark. Shreveport, LA   October 12th, 2007 11:20 am ET

Hispanics don't vote in a block like African-Americans do.

The democrats should not take it for granted that Hispanics will suport them no questions asked like African-Americans do.
Many Latino immigrants want to start their own businesses, and they know it's the democrats that support the regulations, laws, and red tape that hinder business.
Liberals want to allow illegal immigrants to vote, but how many legal immigrants want that?

Coach Haughton NH   October 12th, 2007 11:04 am ET

I think the comment about the democrats wanting mexico to take over america is funny. LMAO

Jayson, Beale AFB, CA   October 12th, 2007 10:53 am ET

Nice to finally see a Democrat tell us why they are pushing to recognize illegal immigrants. Of course Mr. Reid you do realize that the illegals can't vote? Which means that the issue of immigration won't get Democrats any additional votes since those who busted their humps to get here aren't for giving a free ride to those who cheat the system. Anyone with half a brain would also realize that an open border is in direct conflict to improving our national security but of course that is too hard to fathom for your run of the mill Democrat politician.

therealist   October 12th, 2007 10:28 am ET

This Congress has be ranked as the worst in American history. Is there any wonder why?

Raul Martinez, Buffalo NY   October 12th, 2007 9:39 am ET

yep, you american democrats are hearing the real truth. The hispanics are all that matter to the democratic party. Now the real racism is starting to show.

Anonymous   October 12th, 2007 9:21 am ET

Once again, it's not the minorites that liberals care about–it's their votes.

laurinda,ny   October 12th, 2007 7:37 am ET

I'm glad to hear that the hispanic voters are going with the Democrats. So are the Irish. The Republicans have ruined our lives. Every day gets worst and worst. We are all in a trap and can't get out. Our lives were fine until Bush caused havoc on this country and he should have been impeached and thrown in jail.

Dan (Columbia, MD)   October 12th, 2007 7:29 am ET

Why wouldn't they go "blue"? It's in their best interests to do so.

The liberals in this country are already willing to sell America out so they can get hispanic votes. Heck, it doesn't even matter if the hispanics who are here are even here legally.

William Courtland, Waterford, Ontario   October 12th, 2007 3:38 am ET

So understand this spherical prison. Humanity is not the dominate species, and no warden or force of guard exists.

Daniel, NY   October 12th, 2007 2:41 am ET

New poll out of Virginia has Mark Warner holding a massive lead in the Senate race!

Bradley Schaubs, Greeley, CO   October 12th, 2007 2:21 am ET

You said it, Reid. I think anyone with any brain function will vote blue come elections

Alex, Minneapolis, MN   October 12th, 2007 2:10 am ET

I don't think they can be sure about this because many of the republicans and democrat candidates have different ideas. I am not for illegal immigration but I'm also not against legalization….the truth is that they will never fix the system! They're just lying like they always do, so I just hope people don't base they're votes on just immigration. I will be voting for the first time this election (just turned 18) and I'm a democrat, I already know that if Obama gets the nomination, I am not voting…because I will certainly not vote for the republicans either….Latinos/Hispanics are not a homogenous group-we're all different.

William Courtland, Waterford, Ontario   October 12th, 2007 1:44 am ET

A hispanic? A Latino? how are they different from a Spaniard?
It is understood that a Latin base makes a Latino; so that makes the Vatican city Latino…?

Language is a fundamental point of individuality, but culture demands an advancing language; this is why Spanish separated from Latin when the political environment required change, and the demand for describing the narrative position within literature spawned Modern English to meet that required change.

Computing should manage the destruction of language confusion with an advanced translation-matrix with a forced language pre-construct, but it will require a universally lower level of linguistic freedom to translate completely into all other aligned sets of the written word.

Kay, Las Vegas, NV   October 12th, 2007 1:32 am ET

Go ahead and court your new BFFs, Harry; the rest of Nevada is wise to you! You're slime and an embarrassment to yourself and the voters of Nevada!

Jimmy   October 12th, 2007 1:11 am ET

For me Harry Reid is the most disgraceful senator in the senate today and Democrats have made him Majority Leader. I hope that Silver State will reject him in the next election. Today we have the lowest rating for Congresss in US history and Harry reid is responsible for it. I hope that Silver State will remain red and GOP adds to their senate tally.

Nick, Reno Nevada   October 12th, 2007 12:49 am ET

Electing Harry Reid was one of the biggest mistakes we've made.

Dan, Mountain View, CA   October 12th, 2007 12:46 am ET

Of course Hispanics will back Dems because that's what they really want for long to eventually take over America as one of Mexico's states. Oh poor America, why don't you realize about this??

Hector Albuquerque, NM   October 12th, 2007 12:40 am ET

I disagree. The majority of legal Hispanic inmigrants do not support amnesty for ilegal inmigrants. Hispanic voters are not homogeneous and they do not vote in a block because they comprise many nationalities. I changed from Republican to Independent because I don't like any of the present candidates.

DF, New Haven, CT   October 12th, 2007 12:32 am ET

Obviously all Hispanics play soccer and obviously they all care so much about it that that'll swing their votes.

Steve Wittlake Blaine Washington   October 11th, 2007 11:21 pm ET

I wonder if Nevada has the same laws
as California where you can not ask for proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

BUTCH POSEY RAEFORD, N.C. 28376   October 11th, 2007 10:17 pm ET

MR. HARRY REID,
SIR YOU ARE A FINE EXAMPLE WHY OUR GREAT COUNTRY IS GOING TO POT. YOU LIBERALS ARE TRYING TO MAKE LAWS FOR US AVERAGE FOLKS TO USE. YOU LIBERALS COULD FIX MEDICARE IF YOU WANTED TOO.
ONCE YOU LIBERALS GET TO WA. YOU ALL COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN.IF YOU POLITICIANS WOULD GET ON MEDICARE INSTEAD OF DRAWING YOUR PAY JUST LIKE YOU ARE STILL ON THE JOB.MY DAD WOULD ROLL OVER IN HIS GRAVE IF HE JUST KNEW HOW HIS BELOVED DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT OUT. IT IS A CRYING SHAME TO HAVE SUCH PEOPLE IN WA.SUCH AS YOURSELF AND THE REST OF THESE LEFT WING LIBERALS.

Darlene Friedman Henderson,Nevada   October 11th, 2007 9:42 pm ET

The way that the Republicans have run this country over the last six years I think a lot of red states will turn blue. It soon will be time for the swiftboaters against Hilliary to come out of their hole.

therealist   October 11th, 2007 9:25 pm ET

He's right about that.. The Dems open border policies are sure to draw the hispanic vote. Legal and illegal.. America's desire for border security is clearly not important to this Congress.

Benjamin, Miami FL   October 11th, 2007 9:19 pm ET

Of course Democrats are going to get Hispanic votes. Republicans have messed up even though we helped elect President Bush twice!

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