Here is how the population breaks down by race and ethnicity, according to the 2010 Census:
White or European American – 72.4 percent
Hispanic or Latino – 16.4 percent
Black or African American – 12.6 percent
Asian – 4.8 percent
+ The total above 100 percent reflects the fact that several people listed themselves with more than one race or ethnicity
Here is how different groups voted in the 2008 presidential election, either for Democratic President Barack Obama or the losing Republican nominee John McCain:
(Percentage of the electorate in brackets)
SEX
Men (47 percent) – 49 percent for Obama, 48 percent for McCain
Women (53 percent) – 56 percent for Obama, 43 percent for McCain
RACE/ETHNICITY
White (74 percent) – 43 percent for Obama, 55 percent for McCain
Black (13 percent) – 95 percent for Obama, four percent for McCain
Hispanic (nine percent) – 67 percent for Obama, 31 percent for McCain
Asian (two percent) – 62 percent for Obama, 35 percent for McCain
AGE
18-29 (18 percent) – 66 percent for Obama, 32 percent for McCain
30-44 (29 percent) – 52 percent for Obama, 46 percent for McCain
45-59 (30 percent) – 49 percent for Obama, 49 percent for McCain
60+ (23 percent) – 47 percent for Obama, 51 percent for McCain
GEOGRAPHY
Northeast (21 percent) – 59 percent for Obama, 40 percent for McCain
Midwest (24 percent) – 54 percent for Obama, 44 percent for McCain
South (32 percent) – 45 percent for Obama, 54 percent for McCain
West (23 percent) – 57 percent for Obama, 40 percent for McCain
EDUCATION
Not a high school graduate (four percent) – 63 percent for Obama, 35 percent for McCain
High school graduate (20 percent) – 52 percent for Obama, 46 percent for McCain
Some college education (31 percent) – 51 percent for Obama, 47 percent for McCain
College graduate (28 percent) – 50 percent for Obama, 48 percent for McCain
Post graduate education (17 percent) – 58 percent for Obama, 40 percent for McCain
RELIGION
White Protestants (42 percent) – 34 percent for Obama, 65 percent for McCain
White Catholics (19 percent) – 47 percent for Obama, 52 percent for McCain
Jewish (two percent) – 78 percent for Obama, 21 percent for McCain
Born-again or evangelical Christians (38 percent) – 41 percent for Obama, 57 percent for McCain
Attend religious service at least once a week (40 percent) – 43 percent for Obama, 55 percent for McCain
FAMILY INCOME
Under $15,000 (6 percent) – 73 percent for Obama, 25 percent for McCain
$15,000-$29,999 (12 percent) – 60 percent for Obama, 37 percent for McCain
$30,000-$49,999 (19 percent) – 55 percent for Obama, 43 percent for McCain
$50,000-$74,999 (21 percent) – 48 percent for Obama, 49 percent for McCain
$75,000-$99,999 (15 percent) – 51 percent for Obama, 48 percent for McCain
$100,000 and over (26 percent) – 49 percent for Obama, 49 percent for McCain
$200,000 and over (six percent) – 52 percent for Obama, 46 percent for McCain
+ A record 24 million Hispanics will be eligible to vote in the 2012 election.