Donald Trump on Latinos: Most Latinos Hold 'Very Negative' View GOP Presidential Candidate
Based on polling data, most Latinos have a negative view of real estate mogul Donald Trump, one of the Republican presidential candidates.
Among 250 Latinos surveyed, three-in-four Latinos, or 75 percent, viewed Trump unfavorably. While 13 percent said they hold a positive view of him, 61 percent said they have a "very negative" view of the presidential candidate.
The poll, conducted for NBC News, Telemundo and the Wall Street Journal, revealed Latinos found his Mexican and immigration remarks as offensive.
On June 16, during his presidential bid announcement, Trump said, "They (Mexico) are not our friend, believe me. ... The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else's problems. ... When Mexico sends its people, they are not sending their best. They are not sending you. They are sending people that have lots of problems, and they are bringing those problems to us. They are bringing drugs and they are bringing crime, and they're rapists."
Trump's comments were improvised, as it was not included in his prepared-for-delivery speech.
"Some, I assume, are good people," Trump added on June 16. "But I speak to border guards and they tell us what we are getting. They are not sending us the right people. It's coming all over South and Latin America, and it's coming probably from the Middle East, but we don't know because we have no protection and we have no competence. We don't know what is happening and it has got to stop and it has to stop fast."
Trump did not back down from his comments, which resulted in Univision, NBCUniversal and other organizations severing business relationship with him.
In early July, Trump remained confident he will win the Latino vote because he's a job creator. He continued, "I'll create jobs and the Latinos will have jobs they didn't have, I'll do better on that vote than anybody, I will win that vote."
Arturo Carmona, executive director for Presente.org, regarded as the largest online Latino organizing group, said in a statement to Latin Post following the poll's release that Latinos have appeared to be united in opposition to Trump.
"Donald Trump's bigotry, racism and hate has unified the Latino community in important ways," Carmona said. "It reminds us that despite what many GOP party leaders tell us, xenophobia and anti-Latino sentiment is stronger than ever within party ranks. The only thing that Trump's hate has awoken is a deep sense of personal interest on the 2016 election for Latino voters and families."
Hector Sanchez, chair of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda -- a coalition of 39 national and regional Latino organizations, also shared Carmona's remarks. During an interview for Latin Post's "Turnout" series, Sanchez said most political parties recognize the Latino electorate is the "decisive element" in a presidential election, and extremist rhetoric, such as by Trump, has been uniting Latinos to participate in civic engagement.
"We need to send a strong message to people like Donald Trump that are trying to run for the most important office in the nation," said Sanchez, later adding, "He's not just a clown with a microphone. His actions have a direct impact in the Latino community."
Fifty-five percent of Latinos agreed with Sanchez and said Trump's remarks were "insulting and racist and have no place in a campaign for president."
Most Latinos, with 69 percent, said Trump is hurting the Republican Party's image, while 12 percent believed he has been helpful.
The poll was conducted between July 26 and July 30.
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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.