Florida's Latino population could tell a lot about US election

SBS World News Radio: Early voting in the United States presidential election has come to an end in the crucial swing state of Florida, and the results may offer an insight into election day. Republican candidate Donald Trump's outbursts against Latinos appear to have cost him dearly.Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has built up a 33,000-vote advantage in the state's early voting.

Florida's Latino population could tell a lot about US electionFlorida's Latino population could tell a lot about US election

Florida's Latino population could tell a lot about US election

Florida is used to being wooed by politicians at election time because it often plays an important part, but, this year, the state is set to take on an even more crucial role.

An election-eve opinion poll has Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump even in the state, each with 45 per cent of the vote.

Miami has the highest population of foreign-born residents in the United States, with over half of the people there born in another country and 70 per cent of its population Hispanic.

In Little Havana, at the heart of America's largest minority community, 76,000 Cubans could play a pivotal role in the election outcome.

Cuban-American voter Ingenienero Santiago Portal says he will be voting for Mr Trump.

"Trump is the more important person in the world today, the only person who knows what is a business. We need a businessman in the White House. And that is Donald Trump."

However, another voter named Blanca says she believes Hillary Clinton is the better choice.

"Because she's been more in the White House than Trump. Trump has an attitude."

(Reporter:) "You don't like his attitude?"

(Blanca:) "No."

While, overall, Hispanics traditionally vote overwhelmingly Democratic, the Cuban community has long been an exception.

Many fled from Fidel Castro's government in Cuba, and many of them are angry at President Barack Obama's decision to normalise diplomatic relations with their homeland.

It is a decision Donald Trump has promised to repeal.

A voter named Pedro is one of those who says he is frustrated by President Obama's Cuba policies.

"He give Cuba everything for nothing. Give me, give me, take a, take a. Give me, give me, take a, take a. Give me, give me, take a, take a. You know. So I think it's wrong. Every deal he makes with the Cubans now, the island, Trump's going to cut it. He said that, I don't know. He promised."

A Cuban man named Raul arrived in the United States in 1994, floating ashore in a raft with five friends.

He was among 35,000 to flee that year, and he spent his first 14 months at Guantanamo Bay.

He has never forgiven the president at the time, Democrat Bill Clinton.

And after risking his life to live in a democracy, he is bewildered by the two names on the ballot paper.

"Honestly, I don't trust Trump, I don't trust Hillary. I think that, in this country, there are thousands of decent people very well prepared for being president of this nation. Why do we have to go to an election to see Hillary and Trump? Why?"

 

 

 

 


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3 min read

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By Brianna Roberts



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