Republican, Hispanic | featured news

George W. Bush was president of the United States less than five years ago. You'd never know it by listening to Republican politicians or talking with GOP party strategists -- all of whom seem perfectly willing to simply erase Bush from their collective memory. (It's a sort of political version of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.")

Mitt Romney plans to make an appeal to Hispanic voters Monday in a speech where he is expected to distinguish himself as the better presidential candidate on economy and immigration, a topic that has brought his campaign considerable controversy.

Many Republican strategists see recent remarks having a potentially negative impact in swing states with many Hispanic voters.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he cannot understand why Hispanics would vote for Republicans, a remark that drew immediate criticism from Republicans.

The Republican Party risks further alienation from Hispanics by challenging the nomination of Sonia Sotomayer, who would become the first Hispanic, and third woman, on the Supreme Court.