In the run-up to their last face-to-face before the presidential elections, President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, each sent a message in search of the Latino vote exclusively in front of the
Telemundo News
cameras
.
Hours before the presidential debate in Tennessee, both candidates address Latino voters and share their views on the Hispanic community.
This year for the first time Hispanics will be the largest ethnic minority group eligible to vote: it is estimated that at least 32 million will be able to do so.
That is why it is a vote that will be key in deciding who gets the White House.
[More than two million Latinos have already voted in advance: these are the decisive issues and who do they prefer]
The president, Donald Trump, chose to praise the work he has done in his four years in office, highlighting above all the security and order that, he says, is what Latinos want and his government has given them.
“I believe that nobody has done more for the Americans of Hispanic origin and for the Hispanic community than I as president”, says Trump, and incidentally criticizes Biden saying that he “has done a terrible job.
For 47 years he has not really done anything. "
The president also highlights the support that his government has given to Latino businesses in the midst of the pandemic.
“We provide huge amounts of money to small businesses, and to small businesses owned and operated by Hispanics.
And that helped them overcome a really difficult situation, "he says.
[What motivates young Latinos to vote? Racism, the coronavirus and the economy]
In contrast and on the same topic, in his message the Democratic candidate stressed that if he is elected as president, he will
rebuild the nation "by creating well-paying jobs for Latinos, helping all Latino small business owners to access the capital they need."
However, the focus of the president's call for Latino voters to re-elect him is an issue that he has emphasized during his campaign: law and order.
“The Hispanic community in this country wants law and order: they want protection, they want security, they want to have that great feeling of feeling safe.
And we have given them that ”, he warns.
“Hispanics, please come out and vote.
There has never been a president in our history who has done more for you, not even close, than I have.
So get out there and vote ”, he concludes by asking for action.
Latinos prefer Biden and disapprove of Trump's handling of pandemic, poll finds
Aug. 18, 202001: 13
Joe Biden
, for his part, contrasts with the tone and words he decides to use to address Hispanics who can participate and make history in these elections: “I have run for president to restore the soul of this country.
To fight for everyone regardless of the color of their skin, who they love, where they come from ”.
The Democratic presidential candidate assures that the first thing he will do is "put this pandemic under control and that we can finally get our economy back on track."
And he criticizes Trump because "he still does not have a real plan to confront the virus that is devastating Latino families and businesses."
[Follow our coverage of the 2020 presidential elections]
One issue that he did not leave out in his message was that of the dreamers, the young immigrants who arrived in the country as children without documents (most of the times brought by their parents) who today are a key part of the economic cycle of their communities.
“Meanwhile, DACA recipients, including 200,000 front-line workers in this pandemic, continue to live in fear of what tomorrow will bring.
I think it's outrageous, ”he adds.
Biden affirms that during his administration he will "invest in the reconstruction of our country so that it is better than it was before, this time including everyone."
It also gave space to a direct message for Puerto Rico, one of the key groups within US and Latino voters who can decide this election: "I will make sure that Puerto Ricans are not treated as second-class citizens."
In addition, he made a promise to immigrants from a South American country: "I will grant temporary protected status to Venezuelans."
"I want to keep families together, protect Dreamers and restore our values in our immigration system," he
adds.
The message closes with his call to Latinos to empower them and convince them to vote for him: “The success of Latinos is essential to the success of our nation.
Your voices, your votes are going to help decide this election.
We need them.
And I am with you ”.
