Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s newest high-profile supporter says it’s time for Republicans to “fix our problems with the Hispanics.”

MSNBC’s Chuck Todd on Wednesday asked Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) if Arizona would be a swing state during the 2012 presidential election.

“I think that if not this election cycle, the demographics are that Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, even Texas will all be in play,” the senator said with a sigh.

ADVERTISEMENT

“And if Republicans don’t fix their problem?” Todd wondered.

“Yes, we have to fix our problems with the Hispanics,” McCain agreed. “It starts with a way to address the issue of immigration in a humane and caring fashion, at the same time emphasizing the need to secure our borders because of the drug cartels and the people who transport people across our border and treat them terribly.”

The Pew Research Center predicts that Latinos will increase from 14 percent of the U.S. population to 29 percent by 2050.

Watch this video from MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown, uploaded Jan. 5, 2012.

ADVERTISEMENT

(H/T: Mediaite)