GOP's resistance to immigration reform may alienate Hispanics

CBS news reported today that hard-line Republicans' positions in the immigration debate, which are perceived by some as xenophobic, may be taking a heavy toll on their standing with Latino voters. According to the article, "twice as many Hispanics now identify as Democrats as they do Republicans," a fact which is especially significant given that "the Hispanic population grew by more than 20 percent between 2000 and 2005."

Furthermore, the article notes that a number of states with large Hispanic populations have moved up their primaries, which could have a big impact in the 2008 election.

"What [the GOP is] fighting is demographics," says Joe Garcia, director of the Hispanic Strategy Center at the New Democratic Network. "And that's something smart people don't fight with."

The Republicans' immigration woes do not end there, either. The California Republican Party's chief operating officer, Australian citizen Michael Kamurowski, resigned yesterday after it was recently revealed that he had been ordered deported by immigration officials in 2001.