Philadelphia – Millions of Puerto Ricans vote this Tuesday in the United States In the midst of the controversy unleashed in an election rally for Republican Donald Trump where a comedian called Puerto Rico a “garbage island”a racist joke that could tip the balance in the decisive state of Pennsylvania.
“Puerto Rico is not trash, it will never be trash“, Ángel, 30 years old and originally from Ponce, tells EFE after casting his vote in favor of the Democrat, Kamala Harris, at a voting center in a majority Hispanic neighborhood of Philadelphia.
This Puerto Rican, who voted wrapped in his flaghe says that, weeks ago, I intended to vote for Trump thinking it would improve the economy, but changed my mind because of the joke: “It hurt me. “I was going to vote for Trump but I voted for Kamala because she defends us,” he says.
“That man did very badly. We hope she (Kamala Harris) wins“says another voter, María, 72 years old and originally from Dorado.
The inhabitants of Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the United States, cannot vote in the presidential elections, but the millions of Puerto Ricans who reside in the United States can do so.
Only in Pennsylvania, the largest of the hinge states where Harris and Trump are playing for the presidencymore than half a million Puerto Ricans live there.
This community could tip the balance in the elections, given that In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden won there by just 80,000 more votes than Trump..
Historically, Hispanics have voted overwhelmingly Democratic. Trump has managed to narrow that gap, but that rise could have slowed after the joke about Puerto Rico.
At a polling station in Allentown, a Pennsylvania city with a Latino majority, Surprised, Albersain explains to EFE that he sees few Hispanics going to vote.
“I voted for Kamala Harris. I voted in 2016 for Donald Trump, but then I changed because he did many inappropriate things,” he explains.
Carlos, from Santurce, went to vote in Philadelphia wearing a Puerto Rican t-shirt and voted for Harris because he has voted for Democrats all his life.
The joke about the island, he assures, has outraged the entire community: “(Trump) is going to get in trouble, Puerto Rico is one of the best countries in the world.”
Keep reading:
Polls close to elections suggest that Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania will take a toll on Trump for comedian comments
In Pennsylvania, a state where the Puerto Rican vote is decisive, they could be counting mail-in ballots for days
Annoyance over derogatory comments about Puerto Rico at Trump rally could lead apathetic or undecided voters to the polls
Kamala Harris focuses her agenda for Puerto Rico on the economic issue
Delegate for statehood Zoraida Buxó endorses Trump at rally in Pennsylvania; Republican says he loves Puerto Rico
Leaders in Pennsylvania assure that Puerto Ricans can determine the race between Harris and Trump
