Select Republican presidential candidates have been invited to visit New York's largest Latino city, but only one name returned the call: Donald Trump.

New York State Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr., D-South Bronx, revealed he has invited "major" presidential candidates including Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Marco Rubio, R-Florida, to visit The Bronx, home to the largest percentage of Latinos within New York City based on 2011 U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

New York City has been home to the largest U.S. Latino population with 2.3 million inhabitants -- with Dominicans and Puerto Ricans comprising most of the populace.

Trump has been a fixture in New York City, which includes a golf course in The Bronx's Ferry Point Park, and that may have provided an easier response for the real-estate mogul to accept the state senator's invitation to visit the borough.

"You should know that the only one who has shown some kind of respect and interest has been Donald Trump. Donald Trump personally called me and told me that he will definitely work something out with me to visit the Bronx," wrote Diaz in his senate website.

Diaz's invitation called for a meeting with his ministers, since he is an ordained minister of the Church of God and president of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization. The invite, which Diaz publicly published, also requested Trump to walk the streets and meet with the community, noting "many of whom share some of your socially traditional values." Diaz regards himself as "Democrat who is conservative on social issues.

Diaz has previously defended Trump after the Republican presidential candidate made controversial immigration remarks but on the basis of free speech.

Trump had 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. They're rapists."

In his "What You Should Know" blog, Diaz recognized that the Latino vote is the most wanted electorate, but politicians, regardless of political party, do not focus on the Latino community after elections.

"It is well known that the Republican Party's practice is to just give up on the Hispanic and minority community based upon the assumption that they will never get the Hispanic vote," Diaz stated, later adding, "On the other hand, you should know that Democrats are no better because when they get elected, they don't pay too much attention to the Hispanic communities either."

"I hope that the words Donald Trump said to me become a reality while he is on top of the polls, because if he waits to visit the South Bronx after his poll numbers go down, his visit won't look sincere enough," wrote Diaz.

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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.

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