Out of reach today, minorities a key to GOP future

ATLANTA (AP) -- It's a fairly safe bet, based on polls and history, that non-Hispanic white voters will choose Republican Mitt Romney by a wide margin in Tuesday's presidential election. And that's a problem for the GOP.

Steep racial divisions this year that put overwhelming numbers of minority voters in President Barack Obama's camp mean the Republican Party must attract more nonwhite voters in coming years. If they don't, they may well watch Democrats walk away with a sustained Electoral College majority.

To understand the GOP quandary, consider the possibility of Texas and Florida -- nearly a quarter of all Electoral College votes between them -- becoming reliably Democratic.

Can Republicans build minority support without sacrificing white votes?

The dilemma is not new, and GOP leaders are well aware of it.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)