Alberto Gonzales the former Attorney General, says that Republican nominee Mitt Romney must make a personal connection or outreach to the Hispanic voters. Gonzales said if Romney wants to have a chance of winning the presidency, he needs to connect with Hispanics.

Gonzales served during the presidency of George W. Bush, but abruptly resigned in 2007. He said he hopes Romney will support a comprehensive reform of immigration if elected, despite the former Massachusetts governor’s statements during his campaign in the primaries that no legalization of immigrants as a group should take place. Romney also said that he prefers a “self-deportation” by illegal immigrants, but of late has backed away from such a hard line stance.

Gonzales said he does not think Romney has completely rejected comprehensive reform for immigration and said he very well might look at it with new eyes if elected.

During the primaries, Romney ran to Texas Governor Rick Perry’s right, but since becoming the presumptive nominee he has pivoted somewhat. Gonzales supported President Bush’s push to pass a law during his second term that would have legalized millions of undocumented immigrants that reside in the U.S. who had no criminal record and paid a fine.

However, he said much has changed in the Republican Party since then and that may hurt their chances nationally. Analysts think that Romney will need at least 40% of the Hispanic vote in order to win election in November. In 2004, Bush exceeded that 40% barrier, but in 2008, John McCain was only able to get 31% of the Hispanic vote. In a recent poll, only 27% of Hispanics polled said they would support Romney.