WASHINGTON (U.S. Newswire) July 20, 2006 — The Washington Post reports today that despite the Republican Party's rosy rhetoric about their outreach to Hispanic voters and the inroads they've made, Hispanics are in fact now overwhelmingly rejecting the failed leadership of President Bush and the Republican Congress. The results come less than a month after Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman told an audience of Latino elected officials from around the country that reaching out to Hispanics was "vitally important" and claimed that "a Republican Party that does not reach out to Hispanics cannot win ... and a Republican Party that does not reach out to Hispanics does not deserve to win."

The report details a new poll that shows that although Bush "had boosted the Republican share of the overall Hispanic vote to 40 percent in 2004, with almost all his gains coming among the Spanish-speaking voters," today Spanish speakers, roughly half of the Hispanic voting population, would choose the Democrat "59 percent to 23 percent -- far better than the 52 percent to 48 percent showing Kerry achieved among Spanish speakers in 2004."

The poll, released yesterday, shows a full 61 percent of respondents saying the country is headed in the wrong direction, and President Bush with a 58 percent unfavorable rating. In a rebuke of Republican economic policies, an overwhelming 86 percent of respondents worried that the cost of living has increased, and ranked the economy only second to the war in Iraq when asked to identify the greatest issues facing the country. Democrats also outperformed Republicans in 17 of 20 issues, including "respects more my religious beliefs," "better use of my tax money," and "family values."

The news also comes just a week after a Pew Hispanic Center Survey showed that 75 percent of Hispanics believe many more Hispanics will vote in the November elections, and that when they do, registered Hispanic voters would choose Democrats over Republicans 46 percent vs 9 percent as the party "perceived to have more concern for Latinos."

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:

"No amount of rhetoric from the Republican Party can cover up what their divisive campaigning and destructive politics have done to the Hispanic community. Hispanics have seen their average wages decline throughout the Bush presidency, and the Republican Congress would rather use Hispanic immigrants as scapegoats for political gain than pass comprehensive immigration reform that includes critical border security measures and real solutions for America's immigration problems. From reducing opportunities in education, to making health care less affordable, and allowing extremist Republicans to divide America, this President has failed America and the Hispanic community.

"Hispanic voters are making it clear that a Republican Party that reaches out to Hispanics but acts against their best interests does not deserve their votes. Hispanics and all Americans want change. Democrats will continue to work hard to earn the votes of the Hispanic community based on the values we share and the new direction we offer all Americans."