Odyssey Networks Highlight Hispanic Evangelicals and the 2012 Elections

NEW YORK -- Odyssey Networks continues its in-depth coverage of Faith + the 2012 Elections with a look into the concerns and voting considerations of the Hispanic Evangelical community, as well as the role of faith in their choices.

As the Florida Republican primaries approach, Hispanic Evangelicals in that state are being courted by candidates, and faith leaders are encouraging congregations to be involved in the political process. Hispanic Americans make up about 16% of the national population, and according to Juan Sepulveda, Sr. Advisor for Hispanic Affairs, DNC, the group skews young and heavily immigrant. Numbering 10 million and growing, the Hispanic Evangelical voting bloc has become a crucial constituency in U.S. politics. In an effort to ensure their voice is heard in the 2012 election, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition has launched "Nuestro Futuro," a voter registration drive aimed at young Latinos and Latinas. The coalition has a three-pronged focus on poverty eradication programs, immigration reform, and educational equity.

"For any candidate to ignore Hispanic Evangelicals in any presidential election, they do so at their peril," says the Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition. Watch "Up for Grabs? The Hispanic Evangelical Vote" at www.odysseynetworks.org.