[KR: Given all of the stories earlier in the year about whether Obama, a second-generation immigrant, was black enough to get African American support, it is perhaps surprising and ironic that he is losing the immigrant vote to Hillary Clinton. Below are links to news articles and opeds trying to make sense of why Obama is heavily losing among Latino and Asian American voters, with potential explanations ranging from name-recognition advantage, to better outreach by Clinton, to intergroup prejudice].

“Asians were a surprise,” said Bruce Cain, director of the University of California’s Washington Center. “It’s the first (presidential) election we have seen where Asian voters were a big factor. They are about 8 percent of the Democratic electorate…. The two major immigrant groups voted for Clinton as opposed to the candidate who has the immigrant background.”

Article in San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 6

McClain’s research indicates that Latinos, especially recent immigrants, are more likely to vote for Clinton than Barack Obama because they identify more with whites than Blacks, a theory supported by previous findings. Surveys by the Pew Research Center have found Latinos’ views on race relations to be similar to those of whites, and Latinos are most likely to date white people than any other race outside their own. Why is this important?

Story in Diversity, Inc.

“History is one reason why Clinton has such a strong stable of Latino supporters. Many of her endorsers, such as Cisneros, established or consolidated their political networks during President Clinton’s two terms. When younger Latino politicians look at the Clinton campaign organization and ask “What Latinos are in your campaign?” they see well-known, influential faces at the top and at the state and local levels. In contrast, Obama’s campaign has few such stars.”

Oped by Pachon and de la Garza in the LA Times

“We should be careful to make sweeping generalizations on the basis of individual observations. Even in California, where much was made of the Kennedy endorsements and Latino town hall rallies held by Obama, Clinton carried a 2-1 advantage. Yet, according to Mark DiCamillo of the Field Poll, 55% of all California Latinos (Democrats and Republicans) held a favorable opinion of Obama, compared with just 18% unfavorable.”

Oped by Barreto and Ramirez