US Elections: Harris, Trump Up Latino Outreach

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Facts

  • With less than a week before the Nov. 5 US presidential election, Democratic Vice Pres. Kamala Harris and Republican former Pres. Donald Trump held events in Arizona and Nevada on Thursday, with a particular focus on wooing the Latino populations in those states.[1]
  • About 36M Latino voters could participate in this year's election, potentially determining the outcome, especially in the swing states. In a recent Cook's national polling average, Harris had 53.7% of the Latino vote to Trump's 40.9%. But Trump has improved since getting 37% in the 2020 election.[2]
  • However, some of Trump's traction with Latinos may have been lost since a comedian at a Trump rally on Sunday called Puerto Rico 'a floating island of garbage.' Trump has distanced himself from the comment, saying 'nobody loves' the Latino and Puerto Rican communities 'more than' he does.[3][1]
  • Harris was joined at a campaign stop in Nevada by pop star and actress Jennifer Lopez, who's of Puerto Rican descent. Lopez said the comments at the Trump rally didn't just offend Puerto Ricans but 'every Latino in this country.'[4]
  • Recently, Harris unveiled several economic policy proposals that will help Latinos and double the number of Latino homeowners.[2]
  • While the Trump campaign hasn't revealed any Latino-specific policies, it held a Latino roundtable last week and has said that the former president's 'successful record and common-sense policies' will help Latinos as much as they will help all voters.[2]

Sources: [1]Al Jazeera, [2]NewsNation, [3]Newsweek and [4]CNN.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by Washington Examiner. The difference between Trump's outreach to Latino voters and Harris' approach couldn't be starker. While Harris is marching out a parade of entertainers to distract voters from their hardships, Trump is offering policies to make their lives better. Trump is better than Harris on immigration and the economy, and that will make him more popular with Latino voters and all Americans who want the country to make a comeback.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by The New Republic and The New Republic. Trump's offerings to the American electorate are blatantly racist plans that will rip apart families and tank the economy. What was said by the comedian and others at Trump's rally reflected the former president's attitude toward Latinos, who are going to turn out in droves to vote against him. Trump won't be able to escape this predicament.