U.S. Hispanics least worried about presidential election despite anti-immigration rhetoric

Despite Republican candidate Donald Trump's harsh anti-immigration rhetoric, U.S. Hispanics are the least likely racial group to fret over the upcoming election, Gallup found in a new poll.

The poll comes at a time when Trump has made promises to end illegal immigration- mostly from Hispanic nations - a hallmark of his campaign, which has ignited tensions on both sides of the political isle.

There are currently more than 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. While many Democrats want to give them a path to citizenship, many Republicans say the country cannot sustain such an influx of illegals.

Large majorities of all three major U.S. racial and ethnic groups agree the election stakes are higher this year than in prior years, with 66 percent of blacks, 63 percent of whites and 50 percent of Hispanics strongly agreeing, Gallup found.

While roughly seven in 10 or more of each group agree they are afraid of what will happen if their candidate does not win, 64 percent of blacks, compared with 53 percent of whites and only 38 percent of Hispanics strongly agree, Gallup found.

It also discovered that 69 percent of native-born Hispanics strongly agree that this year's election stakes are higher than usual, compared with 31 percent of Hispanic immigrants.

Forty-five percent of Hispanics born in the U.S. strongly agree they are afraid of what will happen if their candidate for president does not win, compared with 30 percent of Hispanic immigrants, Gallup found.

Hispanics have been less likely than other racial or ethnic groups to vote in recent elections. The Democratic Party, which typically garners strong support from Hispanics who do vote, has mounted a major drive this year to build interest and increase the number of Hispanics registered to vote, Gallup said.

Among U.S.-born Hispanics, 87 percent say they are registered to vote, slightly less than the 93 percent of non-Hispanic whites who are registered to vote. Among Hispanic immigrants, 28 percent say they are registered, and another 27 percent plan to register before the election, Gallup said.

Later the month, both Republicans and Democrats will hold their party's national conventions. The tone at each of those events will give a preview of how much the fall campaigns will aim to capitalize on the fears most Americans have about the consequences if their candidate loses, Gallup found. Enditem