MPSA 2008
Gonzales Effect
Abstract
Ethnic minority groups are traditionally linked with the Democratic Party. The current
Bush administration has employed various strategies to attract the minority group
support. A vital part of this strategy was the appointment of persons of non-Anglo origins
to key cabinet positions. Among the various appointments, the appointment of Gonzales
to the Attorney General post – the highest-ranking official in the Department of Justice –
was a symbolic gesture by the current administration to appeal to Latino voters.
Assessing the effectiveness of this strategy in garnering Hispanic support is vital to
understanding the election prospects of both parties for the foreseeable future. Using the
survey data, we will examine the impact of various policies and appointments,
particularly that of Alberto Gonzales’s, in attracting Latino voters.
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