COMMENTARY | One of the reasons the Obama White House fears Texas Gov. Rick Perry, public statements notwithstanding, is Perry's strength among Hispanic voters. According to the National Journal, Perry won 38 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2010.
If Perry could replicate that feat on a national scale, he would eat into Obama's 67 percent Hispanic support he had won in 2008, thus all but assuring his election as president. The Obama campaign will thus have to pay special attention to scaring Hispanics about what a Perry presidency might mean for them.
Perry has garnered support in the Hispanic community while maintaining his standing among tea party conservatives by walking a fine line along one of America's most intractable issues-illegal immigration. Perry has attempted to oppose illegal immigration without insulting Hispanic sensibilities.
For example, he approved a state version of the so-called "Dream Act" which allowed children of illegal immigrants to attend Texas colleges and universities paying in-state tuition, while opposing a federal version of the act. He has criticized lax federal enforcement of the borders, lavishing state money for the protection of Texas' border with Mexico. In the just completed session of the Texas Legislature, Perry proposed a ban on so-called "Sanctuary Cities" where immigration laws are not enforced by local law enforcement agencies.
Obama has been hurt among Hispanics, as with all demographics, by the continuing economic malaise and the decline in jobs, which has hit Hispanics and other minorities the hardest.
This is not to say that Perry is not invulnerable on the illegal immigration issue. Tom Tancredo, a former congressman, 2008 presidential candidate, and anti illegal immigration activist, blasted Perry's support for the state version of the Dream Act, suggesting that Perry is not a real conservative.
Of course, should Perry win the nomination, he will be light years better than President Obama on the issue. That is especially true considering the recent decision by the Obama administration to suspend deportation of illegal aliens, in effect instituting an amnesty policy by executive fiat. The policy is a naked attempt to court the Hispanic vote in advance of the 2012 election.
However, it will allow Perry or anyone else who runs against Obama to be to the right of him on the issue, but still walk that fine line to not anger Hispanic sensibilities.
One other thing that Perry (or any other Republican candidate for president) could do to buttress his or her support among Hispanics is to run with Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his or her vice presidential running mate. Rubio, a Cuban American, is also a tea party favorite. He is also from a swing state that Obama must win in order to be reelected. Thus a Perry/Rubio ticket may be unbeatable.
Texas resident Mark Whittington writes about state issues for the Yahoo! Contributor Network.
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