NEW YORK, June 10 (UPI) -- Early primaries are giving U.S. Hispanic voters new clout with candidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, the New York Times reported Sunday.
Helped by the congressional fight over immigration, Democratic candidates are hiring Latino consultants, starting Spanish-language Web sites and campaigning intensively before Hispanic audiences, the Times noted.
The influence of Hispanic voters is likely to be amplified next year because of the decision by several states with large Hispanic populations to move their presidential primaries to early 2008.
About two-thirds of the nation's Hispanic residents live in nine of the states holding Democratic primaries or caucuses on or before Feb. 5, including California, Florida and New York.
Interest in next year's presidential election is strong among Hispanic voters because of an intense response in many Spanish-speaking communities to U.S. immigration policy, the Times reported.
