Is GOP Determined to Avoid Minority Voters?

Nothing has more significance for America's long-term political evolution than the demographic changes that are diversifying a mostly white nation.

But you'd never know it from the Republican presidential race.

Not only is the GOP field all white and male -- in a year that Democratic contenders include an African-American senator, a Hispanic governor and a woman -- but its candidates seem determined to avoid many of the nation's more diverse groups.

So far, most Republicans have bypassed three chances to woo the fastest-growing, most tempting minority, Hispanics. They also turned down a chance to appear before a leading group of gays and lesbians and have avoided some unions, where Republicans poll a significant minority.

And next week, the top GOP hopefuls will pass up a debate designed to spotlight issues of special interest to African-Americans.

Their actions defy warnings that their party needs to expand its share of minority votes or doom itself to minority status. After 2000, President Bush's strategists said he'd lose in 2004 unless he increased his share of the Hispanic vote to 40 percent.

He did -- and he won.

Last year, after most leading Republicans denounced his immigration plan providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already here, the party's share of the Hispanic vote dropped sharply.

Just last week, The Wall Street Journal, a pillar of conservatism, contrasted how the parties approached issues of concern to Hispanics in recent debates and warned of more trouble ahead.