New U.S. citizens could sway vote

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Applications for U.S. citizenship have almost doubled in one year, fueled by aggressive organizing by Latino activists and a political year marked by tough talk about immigration.

Political strategists are gauging how an increase in new citizens might affect the November presidential election, especially in swing states such as Nevada and Arizona, where a relative few votes cast by new citizens could make a difference.

"People are getting fed up because of the politics and the rhetoric," said Eliseo Medina, executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union.

Medina's immigrant-heavy union joined with Spanish-language news media and 400 other groups a year ago to form "Ya es Hora," Spanish for "It's Time," a nationwide citizenship drive.