By Sam Baker, KERA 90.1's Morning Edition Host
Dallas, TX – Sam Baker, KERA 90.'s Morning Edition Host: A new poll shows Al Gore maintaining his lead over George W. Bush among Latino voters. The public broadcasting survey commissioned by KERA and five other stations covered states with the largest Latino populations. Nearly 54% of registered Latinos in Texas, California, New York, Florida and Illinois said they'd vote for Gore if the election were held today. But more than 33% preferred Bush. Dr. Ed Rincon conducted the poll, and he attributes the Governor's strong showing to a focus on his qualities rather than those of the Republican Party.
Ed Rincon, President, Rincon & Associates: They like what he looks like, how he talks, the use of Spanish, and the presentation of his Latino nephew in key situations. They like George Bush the individual, and that may be all he needs to do.
Baker: The Governor trailed Gore in Texas by more than four points. Maria Martin will examine poll results at 6:20 on Morning Edition.
Baker: In spite of recent claims that the TAAS exam in Texas discriminates against students of color, a new poll shows Latinos favor standardized testing. More than 79% said so in a national poll of Latinos commissioned by KERA. Andy Hernandez of St. Mary's University Political Science Department believes that view stems from Latino parents far from satisfied with the quality of public education their children receive.
Andy Hernandez, Research Fellow in Political Science, St. Mary's University: And they're trying to figure out a way to make this work. So anything that would say, "We've got to be tougher," like assessments and standardized testing, and make sure these kids learn. They're desperate at this point to have them do anything that will help these kids learn and not drop out.
Baker: More than 62% of those surveyed in the Latino 2000 poll favored the use of school vouchers, bilingual education and tax increases to hire more qualified teachers. Reporter Bill Zeeble will have more on the poll and education at 7:50.
Baker: Results from a new poll commissioned by KERA show racism and discrimination as the most important issues facing both Latinos and the U.S. overall today. Dr. Ed Rincon conducted the Public Broadcasting Latino Poll 2000. He says immigrants face many barriers.
Ed Rincon, President, Rincon and Associates: It's expected that they are going to have difficulty getting jobs, you know, basically integrating into school, getting health care; and our institutions are not very well prepared to handle Latinos that are not very proficient in English. So, and there's obviously expected conflicts between cultural traditions and values. They have to deal with those issues, and Latinos in this country are paying the price for that.
Baker: About 70% of the respondents were foreign-born. Education, jobs and immigration problems came in second, third and fourth among issues of most importance to Latinos. Suzanne Sprague will have more on this at 6:40.