How Puerto Rico 'floating island of garbage' joke could have devastating consequences for Trump in Pennsylvania

A joke astir Puerto Rico being a 'floating land of garbage' could person agelong past effects connected Donald Trump's run successful Pennsylvania of each places.

Puerto Ricans surviving connected nan land don't get to ballot successful nan statesmanlike predetermination but those surviving successful nan mainland United States do get to formed their ballot – and galore unrecorded successful nan battleground authorities that could determine nan election.

About 580,000 Latinos successful Pennsylvania tin ballot this rhythm and astir of them are Puerto Rican, according to UCLA's Latino Policy and Politics Institute. The authorities is location to nan third-largest organization of Puerto Ricans extracurricular nan island.

Joe Biden won Pennsylvania by 81,000 votes successful nan 2020 election. Trump won it by 44,000 votes successful nan 2016 contest. Both of those numbers are smaller than nan Latino organization of nan state, showing really adjacent nan separator could beryllium connected November 5th.

The Trump run sought to region itself from nan comments comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made during Trump's rally astatine Madison Square Garden connected Sunday.

'This joke does not bespeak nan views of President Trump aliases nan campaign,' said Danielle Alvarez, a elder advisor to nan campaign.

Hinchcliffe is nan big of 'Kill Tony' podcast and his remark astir Puerto Rico - made amid a slew of racist and misogynistic remarks by different speakers - went viral.

'I don't cognize if you cognize this but there's virtually a floating land of garbage successful nan mediate of nan water correct now. I deliberation it's called Puerto Rico,' Hinchcliffe said during Trump's state successful New York, which has nan largest number of Puerto Ricans extracurricular of nan U.S. territory.

Republicans were speedy to disavow nan comment.

'This joke bombed for a reason. It's not funny and it's not true. Puerto Ricans are astonishing group and astonishing Americans!,' wrote Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida connected X.

But Hinchcliffe based on he was conscionable making a joke.

'I emotion Puerto Rico and picnic there. I made nosy of everyone … watch nan full set. I'm a comedian Tim,' he wrote connected X later connected Sunday.

While Hinchcliffe was making his joke, Kamala Harris was announcing her economical scheme for nan island.

The Democratic statesmanlike nominee was astatine Freddy and Tony's Restaurant connected Sunday, a Puerto Rican champion successful Philadelphia.

She was greeted pinch chants of 'Sí, se puede.'

Earlier successful nan time Harris released a video connection announcing she would create a caller Puerto Rico Opportunity Task Force if she wins nan election.

Harris said nan national authorities would activity pinch nan backstage assemblage and land leaders to find ways to create much jobs there. She besides pledged to rebuild nan island's rickety powerfulness grid.

Her run was speedy to capitalize connected Hinchcliffe's remark.

'I will ne'er hide what Donald Trump did and what he did not do erstwhile Puerto Rico needed a caring and competent leader,' Harris said successful nan video.

She was referring to nan aftermath of Hurricane Maria successful 2017 erstwhile past President Trump based on astir nan island's decease toll and fought pinch locals astir nan national response.

Hinchcliffe's remark besides led to respective salient Puerto Ricans endorsing Harris and sharing her scheme for nan island.

Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny posted Harris' Puerto Rico promise to his Instagram followers. Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin besides shared Harris's video connected their Instagram accounts.

The 3 artists unsocial person much than 314 cardinal Instagram followers betwixt them.

The Harris run had peculiarly sought Bad Bunny's endorsement, fixed his power among Latinos and young people.

It was unclear if he would measurement in, fixed his agelong loyalty to nan land he was calved and nan truth that group location cannot ballot successful nan election.