New Dem video targets Latinos to get out vote

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) released a campaign video on Thursday featuring Hispanic members of Congress as Democrats push to get Latinos to vote in the fall.

The video was released to mark the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. 

It features House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra (Calif), Reps. Joaquín Castro (Texas), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (Calif.) and Michelle Luján-Grisham (N.M.). All of the lawmakers repeat quotes from Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and running mate Tim Kaine about the Latino community.

Clinton has attended several Hispanic leadership events and will address the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Heritage Month gala Thursday. She has a lead in polls among Latino voters over Republican Donald Trump, who has made a string of statements that have offended many Hispanics.

“We have heard enough of Trump’s attacks against Hispanics,” reads onscreen text in the video. “These are the words of candidates who respect the Hispanic community.”

The featured members of Congress comment on the contrast between Trump and Clinton.

“Reading what Hillary Clinton says and has done for the Latino community compared to what Donald Trump says, it’s just night and day,” says Gallego.

Democrats are relying on Hispanic voters to carry battleground states like Florida, Nevada and Colorado. But smaller Latino communities in states like Iowa and North Carolina are taking on increased relevance as those races tighten.

Trump’s strong immigration rhetoric and racially charged language has put Latino voters at the center of the campaign, and they could turn out in record numbers. 

While Clinton holds a commanding lead among Hispanics, 81 percent to 19 percent, Latino participation numbers have traditionally been lower than other in demographics.

According to a national poll of registered Hispanic voters released last week by Latino Decisions, 76 percent say it is more important to vote in 2016 than it was in 2012. Asked why it is more important, 51 percent said to “stop Trump” and 26 percent said to “support Clinton.”

The video directs Hispanic voters to a Democratic program designed to boost voter registration and participation.

“Make sure Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine end up in the White House. Head to iwillvote.com and get yourself registered to vote and check your registration status,” Roybal-Allard says.

Democrats say the focus on negative attacks by Trump and on Trump have taken over the conversation among Latinos, taking away attention from their positive message about Clinton and Kaine.

“In stark contrast to the Trump-Pence ticket, Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine have long respected the Latino community. And so, as we kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, we wanted to remind voters that they can count on Clinton and Kaine to fight for them,” said DNC spokesman Walter García.