A radio host, Victor Martinez, commented that following a rally held by Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York, it was “too late” for the former president to win back Puerto Rican voters. The comments came in response to remarks made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe during the rally, where he joked that Puerto Rico was a “floating island of garbage.” Despite efforts to distance themselves from the joke, the controversy surrounding the remarks was criticized by many, including GOP figures from Florida, where there is a significant Puerto Rican population.
The Harris campaign sought to capitalize on the controversy by releasing a video of her plan for Puerto Rico on the same day as the rally. Kamala Harris was in Allentown, Pennsylvania, another battleground state with a large Puerto Rican community, when the video was released. The video was also shared by Puerto Rican music icon Bad Bunny, further emphasizing the impact of the remarks made at Trump’s rally. Martinez highlighted the significance of the Puerto Rican population in key swing states, noting that the controversy was likely to have an impact on their votes.
Trump held a rally in Allentown on Tuesday but did not address the allegations of racism stemming from his Sunday rally. Martinez described the situation as a gift for the Harris campaign, emphasizing the strategic timing of events that unfolded. He noted that it was too late for Trump to win back Puerto Rican voters, as many in the community were offended by the remarks and felt that an apology at this point would not be sufficient. Martinez also emphasized the pride that Puerto Ricans have in their island and their flag, making the controversy particularly sensitive for the community.
The potential impact of Puerto Rican voters in various battleground states was highlighted, with the demographic having the potential to swing the election away from Trump if they vote for Harris. States like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, and North Carolina have significant Puerto Rican populations that could play a decisive role in the outcome of the election. While most Puerto Ricans traditionally vote Democrat, there have been instances where support for Trump among Latino voters increased, despite controversial remarks and criticism of his policies.
Efforts to mobilize Puerto Rican and Latino voters have intensified following the controversy at Trump’s rally. Voto Latino, a civic engagement organization focused on Latino voters, held a national virtual call to rally the Latino community to participate in the election. The organization’s president, María Teresa Kumar, emphasized the importance of recognizing the racist nature of the comments made at the rally and the need to stand up against such behavior. The potential impact of Latino voters in key swing states was underscored, with polls showing tight races that could be influenced by the Latino community.
