US Presidential Swing States Neck and Neck... Rising Popularity of 'Latino Voters'

Trump Targets Latinos with TV Ads... Biden Promises "Will Reunite Immigrant Families" if Inaugurated
Focus on Winning Latino Votes to Shake Up Presidential Race
Crucial Battleground States with Growing Latin Populations: Texas, Nevada, Arizona
Trump and Biden Campaign in Tampa, Florida on the Same Day

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Four days before the U.S. presidential election, President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden have both launched efforts to court Latino voters. It is evaluated that Latino voters in key battleground states, including Florida, which is considered the largest swing state, could be a decisive factor in the election outcome. Both candidates simultaneously visited Tampa, Florida, to appeal for support.

According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 29th (local time), the Trump campaign released a TV advertisement targeting conservative-leaning Latinos. The ad targeted Latino voters in southern battleground states such as central and southern Florida, Arizona, and Nevada.

The campaign emphasized the hopes of immigrant communities and President Trump's response. Through narration, it stated, "Why did we come here? Why did we sacrifice everything to start over? We have the opportunity to achieve our dreams and provide a better future for our families.

Today, we decide whether to save the American Dream or let the pandemic threaten our destiny," followed by emphasizing, "Like President Trump, we will win the war against COVID-19 and continue to fight for our people."

Biden also presented pledges to capture Latino votes on the same day. He announced that if elected president, he would form a task force on his first day in office to locate 545 minority parents separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border due to President Trump's immigration policies. WP cited a Biden campaign official saying, "Early voting results among Latinos in key battleground states are below initial expectations, causing concern," explaining the background for the pledge.

The reason both candidates are courting Latino voters in the final stages of the campaign is that these votes can significantly influence the outcome in U.S. battleground states. There are many Latino voters not only in Nevada and Arizona but also in Michigan and North Carolina. According to Pew Research, the number of Latino voters in this election is reported to be as high as 32 million.

Trump and Biden simultaneously visited Tampa, Florida, where there is a large Latino voter population. This is the first time both candidates have visited the same city on the same day. Florida is close to Cuba and has many Latinos opposed to the communist regime, to the extent that there is a saying, "If you exclude retirees from Florida's population, everyone else is Latino." According to WP's analysis of early voting in Florida, mail-in ballots from Republican-leaning Latinos slightly outnumber those from Democratic-leaning Latinos.

On the afternoon of the same day, President Trump began his speech at the Raymond James Stadium parking lot in Tampa, introduced by First Lady Melania Trump. Melania said, "Hello, Florida. It's good to be home," before leading President Trump to the podium. This was also the first time Melania accompanied President Trump on the campaign trail.

In his speech, President Trump launched an offensive, saying, "If Biden wins, China wins," and mentioned, "A COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed within weeks." He added, "The elderly will be the first to receive the vaccine," showing attention to senior voters, who have emerged as a variable in this election.

Following President Trump, Biden, who also visited Tampa, criticized, "Trump held a COVID-19 super-spreader event here," and said, "He spreads not only the virus but also division and discord." Before Tampa, at Coconut Creek, he emphasized, "If Florida turns blue (the Democratic Party's color), the election is over." He also promised Latino voters that if elected, he would reverse President Trump's hardline policy against Cuba.

Florida, with 29 electoral votes, is the largest battleground state and considered the key battleground. A fierce contest is underway within the margin of error. On the 27th, President Trump led in average support for the first time, but Biden has since regained a 1.4% lead.

The overall situation in battleground states is becoming even more competitive. RealClearPolitics reported that the gap between the two candidates in six major battleground states continues to narrow. As of today, Biden leads President Trump by 3.2 percentage points, down from a 3.6-point lead just one day earlier.