Historically, the Republican Party has been a more vocal supporter of statehood for Puerto Rico than the Democratic Party has ever been. It can be said, in fact, that the island's pro-statehood movement owes its existence to the GOP. The Democratic Party, meanwhile, has been more receptive to the Commonwealth status; the island's Popular Democratic Party (PPD), for example, is a traditional ally of the Democrats.
Although the PPD established the Commonwealth back in 1952, there are those among its current leadership who have not ruled out calling for some kind of free-association relationship with the United States short of complete independence. To what degree the PPD rank-and-file understand this is questionable.
Please explain to me if you can why the GOP would support statehood for PR. As my sister-in-law, a native of Puerto Rico who still lives there says, "Statehood would be great. I could get cash assistance, the access card, and the free health care all without leaving Puerto Rico like my cousins in Philthadelphia had to do". Scheming for handouts does not sound like a Republican value to me. I though the welfare roles were to be reduced, not inflated, by the GOP. They can't be doing it for the votes. The GOP will never get the bulk of the PR vote. Not after Klinton cut loose those 17 terrorists to get Hitlery elected in NY. What about Vieques. W gets credit for cutting those ties, right? Anti statehood is the only thing I agree with the left on. Other than that, pinkos are worthless.