Hispanic groups say they won’t accept blame for Democratic losses this fall: report

Hispanic advocates say they won’t entertain any blame if Democrats lose control of the Senate, a reflection of their disappointment in President Obama for delaying executive action on deportation reforms and apathy for Democratic candidates that haven’t made a direct appeal to the demographic, according to the Wall Street Journal reported.

Gary Segura, co-founder of polling firm Latino Decisions, said they will demonstrate their influence in a novel way — letting Democratic incumbents like Sen. Kay Hagan of North Carolina lose, the Journal reported.

“In any instance where a Latino-preferred candidate loses and that Latino community turned out in smaller numbers because of the disillusionment, Latinos did make a difference. The decision not to vote is still a political decision and is not necessarily irrational,” Mr. Segura said at a late Monday briefing, the newspaper reported.

“If you’re a Latino in North Carolina and the president delayed his decision to help Kay Hagan in her election, why would you go vote for Kay Hagan? … Latinos can have influence by letting people lose, just as they can have influence by helping people win,” he added.

Hispanic groups are outraged that Mr. Obama decided to delay executive action on deportation until after the election in deference to Senate Democrats who feared losing their elections over such a move, as Republican paint their political rivals as devoted followers of the president.

Pollsters say the number of Hispanic voters from 2012 is greater than the difference between the top Senate candidates in Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan and North Carolina, according to the Journal.