World
October 29, 2024 19:40
amsterdam - Kamala Harris seizes the opportunity presented by the controversial remarks at a Trump rally to attract Latino voters in swing states like Pennsylvania where their support could be crucial.
The storm of outrage triggered by the offensive remarks of a comedian during Donald Trump's campaign event over the weekend continues. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, particularly, the anger among the Latino population seems to linger. Kamala Harris eagerly seizes the unexpected controversy as an opportunity to appeal to Latino voters.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, on Sunday night at New York's Madison Square Garden, was just a warm-up act between prominent Republican speakers like Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump himself. During his performance, he made the audience laugh by describing Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory in the Caribbean Sea, as 'an island of garbage.' He also commented that people from Latin America like to 'make babies.'
Following the hours-long rally, it is these remarks that are receiving widespread attention in the American media. While residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote next week, about 6 million Americans of Puerto Rican descent can do so on November 5th. Approximately half a million of them reside in swing state Pennsylvania, where both Trump and Harris are hoping to secure 19 electoral votes.
With over half a million Latinos, Pennsylvania is the fifth largest 'Latino state' in the U.S. Politico reported on Tuesday that the jokes did not sit well in the Keystone State. An independent Puerto Rican advocacy group immediately sent a letter to its members after Trump's rally, urging them not to vote for the Republican candidate.
It's described how the insults are the talk of the town in the many bodegas where Puerto Ricans gather daily. 'It's spreading like wildfire through the community,' a local Democratic volunteer told the website. 'This was like a gift from the gods,' added a Spanish-language radio host.
Arizona and Nevada, both swing states, also have sizable Latino populations. Trump's campaign team has tried to distance itself from Hinchcliffe's comments. Senior staffer Danielle Alvarez rushed to say on Sunday night that 'the joke does not reflect President Trump's or the campaign's views.'
Meanwhile, Kamala Harris is capitalizing on the situation. Although polls show Harris has more support from Latino voters than Trump, her lead is not as significant as Biden's in 2020. The potential misstep at Trump's rally could give her a much-needed boost.
Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, with over 60 million followers, seems to have taken a stance. He shared a campaign video of Kamala Harris criticizing Trump's treatment of Puerto Ricans. Artist Jennifer Lopez also expressed her disapproval of the Texas comedian's statements.
Hinchcliffe himself responded, saying, 'These people have no sense of humor.' He claimed that Democrats 'took it out of context to make it seem racist.' 'I love Puerto Rico and vacationing there. I joke about everyone... watch the whole act. I'm a comedian.'
Trump told ABC News on Tuesday that he did not hear Hinchcliffe's remarks and does not know him. Nevertheless, the comedian did kick off Trump's highly publicized campaign event at Madison Square Garden in 'blue' New York. 'I don't know him, someone put him there. I don't know who he is.'