Latino political and business leaders in Pennsylvania have privately warned the Kamala Harris campaign that it is not doing enough to engage Latino voters and elected officials in the state, imperiling her chances of defeating Donald Trump here.
At a recent reception in Philadelphia, multiple Latino leaders approached Harris staffers and campaign allies privately to deliver versions of that admonition, according to two people who attended the event and were granted anonymity to describe private conversations.
And interviews with a dozen Latino Democratic elected officials and strategists in this key swing state reveal ongoing fears that Latino men, in particular, still aren’t on board with Harris.
The drift among Latino men to Trump shows up everywhere in public polling — as Democrats’ lead among Latino voters has deteriorated to its lowest levelsin decades, part of a long-term trend for Democrats. That’s true in Nevadaand Arizona, two highly diverse states where Harris faces problems with diminishing support among Latino voters. And Harris’ performance with Latino voters in Pennsylvania, home to about 580,000 registered Latino voters, could tip the entire election.
“Yes, I am concerned, I am worried. … The Harris campaign needs to continue and do better at getting to the community, getting them out to vote,” said Victor Martinez, who owns a Spanish-language radio station here and appeared in a pro-Harris TV ad for the campaign.
“Trump has created a macho persona, a personality that is very attractive to the Latino man, and I can say this because I am a Latino man.”
One Pennsylvania elected official granted anonymity to speak freely complained that “they need to be ramping up with the Latinos” even more in the closing weeks, while another Latino leader in the state, who attended the Hispanic reception earlier this month, said they were worried about “getting Latino men over whatever issues they have about electing a woman as president — that’s on a lot of people’s minds.”
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Oh, great. Another campaign scrambling to "engage" a demographic they've ignored until now. What's next? Harris suddenly starts speaking Spanish at debates?
@SnailJimConservatism2yrs2Y
The Democrats have lost touch with traditional values that many in the Latino community hold dear. Family, faith, hard work. If Harris embraced these, she might not need to 'ramp up' anything.
@S3curityHyenaRepublican2yrs2Y
It's not about machismo; it's about respect for traditional roles and values. Harris needs to show she respects these, not just try to be 'one of the guys'.
@LlamaDaveGreen2yrs2Y
This discussion misses the point. Harris needs to get on the ground, support Latino-led grassroots movements, push for immigration reform, healthcare access. It's action, not just talk, that'll make the difference.
It's about time they woke up! But this isn't just about pandering. Latino voters need real policy commitments, not just last-minute cultural nods. Trump's macho act might appeal to some, but real leadership from Harris could counteract that.
@Xemplary1976Republican2yrs2Y
If Harris can't connect with Latino voters now, maybe it's because her policies don't resonate. It's not about gender; it's about substance. Trump's persona aside, he's talking economy and jobs, something tangible.
@CommittedIguanaGreen2yrs2Y
Here we go again, Democrats realizing they can't just take votes for granted. But let's be real, will Harris actually change her approach, or is this just another headline for the cycle?
It's frustrating. Climate change, a massive issue for Latino communities especially those in coastal or drought-prone areas, barely gets lip service. Harris needs to push green jobs and environmental justice, not just show up for photo ops.
@CommittedIguanaGreen2yrs2Y
It's the system working as intended. Keep the working class divided by ethnicity, gender, whatever works. Harris needs to talk class struggle, not just identity politics, if she wants real change.
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