In Florida, Dems now outnumber Repubs among Hispanic voters

Looks like yet another group that has been a stalwart for the GOP has come to its senses, in the wake of the Worst President Ever. Hispanic voters in Florida now are mostly Democrats:

In 2006, Hispanics registered as Republicans in Florida outnumbered Democrats by 45,000, stoked by an overwhelming advantage in the conservative South Florida Cuban community.

But according to the latest figures from the Florida Division of Elections, Democrats now lead by almost 30,000 voters: 454,798 to 424,866. That represents a turnaround of 75,000 voters in less than two years.

In Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, where Democrats already had an advantage over the GOP among Latino registered voters, the party has increased its margins as Nov. 4 approaches. Democrats are crowing about it.

"Hispanics are like other voters in this country, and they want change," said Mike Rios, head of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce in Palm Beach County and a Democratic Party organizer.

"They want to stop the war in Iraq, bring down gas prices, create jobs and provide health insurance. And for all that, the Democrats and Barack Obama have the best platform."

Rios said the large increase in registered Democrats is due in part to new, young Latino voters, who tend to be more liberal. He also said many Puerto Ricans, some from the Northeast and others who have fled the Caribbean island's economic problems, have moved to Florida. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and, traditionally, Democratic voters.

Florida also has seen a sizable spike in Colombians who have become citizens, and many have registered as Democrats, Rios added.

"We've also had some Cubans register Democrat," he said in a mild dig in the ribs to his Republican rivals.

Sid Dinerstein, Palm Beach County's GOP chairman, and other Republican activists don't see those registration numbers determining the November vote.

No, of course you wouldn't, Sid. That's because you're willfully ignorant to the fact that America is sick and tired of the political games, the lies, the death and destruction, and the profiteering enabled -- and conducted -- by your party over the last eight -- well, really more like the last 15 years. If I were a Republican, I'd kill myself realize that maybe the problem is that America wants change -- and I'd look at ways to change the party platform from something that depends on allegiance to a failed, corrupt presidency and a failed, corrupt ideology into something that more closely resembles what the Republican Party claims to support: a smaller federal government and other hallmarks of traditional conservatism.

Looks like Hispanic voters in Florida, like everyone else, are discovering that real change comes not from the empty rhetoric of the Right (Huggy Bear claims to be the candidate of change? The guy who hugged Drunky McStagger and who has voted with him in increasing percentages up to the present-day 95% of the time? It's laughable, really ...) but from, well, real change -- as in electing Barack Obama president and making sure Democrats have a mandate in down-ticket races as well.

The Hispanic vote in Florida, as usual, is likely to make a significant difference at the polls in November. But this time, no matter how much Sid Dinerstein and his pals clap their hands and wish it away, that difference will benefit the Democrats.

(h/t Palm Beach Post via Twitter -- had I not been on the road yesterday, I would have posted this when I received the heads-up, but thanks, PBP!)

(cross-posted at FPC Blog)