Romney to Hit Obama on Immigration in Key Speech

USA TODAY

By Catalina Camia

September 17, 2012

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/09/17/romney-immigration-hispanic-chamber/70000481/1#.UFcRiLJlTFk

Mitt Romney will vow to "permanently" fix the nation's immigration system, as he courts Hispanic voters who are solidly behind President Obama.

In a speech today before the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the GOP presidential nominee plans to stress themes of creating jobs, balancing the budget and building small businesses, according to excerpts of his remarks released by his campaign.

On immigration, Romney will criticize Obama's handling of the issue and promise to work with Republicans and Democrats for a comprehensive fix that has proven elusive amid the partisanship of Congress. From Romney's excerpts:

For years, Republicans and Democrats seem to have been more interested in playing politics with immigration than with actually fixing it. Candidate Obama said that one of his highest priorities would be to fix immigration in his first year in office. Despite his party having majorities in both house of Congress, the President never even offered up a bill. Like so many issues confronting our nation, when it comes to immigration, politics has been put ahead of people for too long.

Latino voters helped propel Obama to victory in 2008, and are poised to play a key role again this year -- especially in swing states such as Colorado, Nevada, Florida and Virginia.

Obama won 67% of the Hispanic vote four years ago, according to exit polls. A Latino Decisions poll taken after the Democratic convention shows Obama leading Romney among Hispanics, 66%-29%.

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is meeting in Los Angeles. Romney is expected to speak about 3:15 p.m. ET.