Obama predicts immigration bill because of GOP

President Obama says he's confident he can get an immigration bill in a second term because Republicans will need to get right with the growing Hispanic electorate.

Republican nominee Mitt Romney and the GOP "have so alienated the fastest-growing demographic group in the country, the Latino community," they will be amenable to a compromise immigration bill after the election, Obama told The Des Moines Register.

"I am fairly confident that they're going to have a deep interest in getting that done," Obama said. "And I want to get it done because it's the right thing to do, and I've cared about this ever since I ran back in 2008."

Obama wants a bill that would include tighter border enforcement as well as a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants in the USA. Most Republicans want only a border security bill, with stepped-up deportations.

The president expressed optimism about his bill in a Register interview that had initially been placed off the record but was released Wednesday morning.

"Since this is off the record, I will just be very blunt," Obama said. "Should I win a second term, a big reason I will win a second term is because the Republican nominee and the Republican Party have so alienated the fastest-growing demographic group in the country, the Latino community."

Obama enjoys a big lead over Romney among Hispanic voters, according to pre-election polls.

"And this is a relatively new phenomenon," Obama said. "George Bush and Karl Rove were smart enough to understand the changing nature of America."

Romney spokesman Alberto Martinez responded:

"It's a fascinating glimpse into how President Obama has taken the Hispanic community for granted for the past four years. He's caught making secret promises to an editorial board in Iowa, which also happens to be a promise he made in 2008, a promise he failed to keep, and a promise he doesn't repeat publicly.

"The whole episode underscores why millions of Hispanics are deeply disappointed with President Obama. Hispanics view President Obama as a weak leader who makes promises he can't keep and has pursued policies that have failed all Americans."