Romney tries to close the gap on the Latino vote

Both the President and Romney are courting Latino voters as our new poll shows us just how tight this race really is...

May 23, 2012

Both the President and Romney are courting Latino voters as our new poll shows us just how tight this race really is.President Obama has a four-point lead among registered voters in the new NBC-Wall St. Journal poll.

He’s slipped a bit since last month, but holds a big lead among women, youth, and Hispanic voters. “People like him personally. But, pessimism about the economy, as well as the nation’s direction, are weighing down on the President,” says NBC News Senior Political Editor, Mark Murray. He’s tied with Mitt Romney on the economy. Romney’s winning men, whites, suburbanites, and people watching the race closely.

Today he speaks at a Latino summit in Washington. Insiders say Romney needs to win 40% of the Hispanic vote, and he’s way behind. Hispanics are focused on the economy. “More than anything, it’s jobs, and it’s going to be making sure that they can keep their homes and educating their kids,” said Maria Theresa Kumar, Voto Latino.

President Obama delivers the commencement address today at the Air Force Academy in swing-state Colorado.While his running mate tries to tear down Romney’s number one asset, his business experience. “That no more qualifies you to be president than being a plumber!” exclaimed Vice President, Joe Biden.

Analysts think portraying Romney as a rich guy who only cares about profits may hurt him among independents, but the polls shows only one in five view Romney negatively because of his work at Bain Capital. Most have no opinion at all.