Immigration Trumps War for Many Ethnic Voters

SAN FRANCISCO-Many ethnic voters will troop to the polling booths on Tuesday with one thing in mind: immigration. And there are indications from ethnic journalists that their communities are leaning toward the Democratic ticket to get the kind of comprehensive immigration reform law they want. Some fear that the issue will get swept under the rug until the new Congress starts in January.

Alberto Vourvoulias, executive editor of El Diario/La Prensa, the country's oldest Spanish-language newspaper, says immigration is the core issue driving voters in New Jersey to vote for incumbent Democrat Senator Bob Menendez. Menendez, the son of Cuban immigrants, has been "pro-immigrant, supporting comprehensive immigration reform and voting against the construction of the 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border," Vourvoulias explains.

Sen. Hillary Clinton's vote in favor of that border wall is why his readers are unhappy with her, according to Vourvoulias. Protests led by immigrant rights groups criticized Clinton's vote for the wall. Despite this, El Diario/La Prensa is endorsing Clinton, although, Vourvoulias says, "We do have a caveat for her, and that is we urge her to support immigrants, whether undocumented or not, and we are also very worried about her position on the Iraq war."

The newspaper is supporting both New York Democratic candidates Clinton and gubernatorial hopeful Eliot Spitzer, based on what Vourvoulias calls "the small party-line basis." The paper, Vourvoulias explains, is supporting candidates based on issues that are closest to the hearts of Latinos. "It's an innovative approach, it's the first time it's been done in New York, and we're the only publication to have done it", Vourvoulias says. The paper wants Spitzer to be aware of the importance of affordable housing, to support fairer health care for the poor and to stand up for immigrants.

Joe Wei, national desk editor for World Journal, one of the largest Chinese-language dailies in the United States, predicts that most Chinese voters might favor Democrats, hoping for the passage of a comprehensive immigration law that will benefit the community.

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