Vice President Kamala Harris is airing a new television ad featuring racist comments about Puerto Rico made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a recent Trump rally. The ad is aimed at the significant Puerto Rican populations across critical swing states, as the community's vote could play a pivotal role in the upcoming presidential election.

Rallying the Puerto Rican Diaspora

Hinchcliffe's Offensive Remarks

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, known for his close association with Joe Rogan, made a series of offensive remarks about Puerto Rico and Latinos during his opening set at a Trump rally held at Madison Square Garden. Hinchcliffe described Puerto Rico as "a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean" and made crass comments about the sexual proclivities of Latinos, stating, "These Latinos — they love making babies. There's no pulling out. They come inside. Just like they did to our country."

Backlash and Condemnation

Hinchcliffe's remarks quickly drew widespread condemnation from Puerto Rican officials, elected leaders, activists, and celebrities. Several pro-Harris entertainers, including Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and Bad Bunny, expressed their support for the vice president on social media, urging their millions of followers to stand with her. Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez also condemned Hinchcliffe's comments, with Ocasio-Cortez accusing him of "carrying water for white supremacists."

The Political Implications

The political implications of insulting Puerto Ricans could be dire for the Trump campaign, as the Puerto Rican diaspora in the continental United States could have a significant impact on the outcome of the presidential election. According to the 2020 Census, nearly 6 million Puerto Ricans or Americans of Puerto Rican descent live stateside, with many concentrated in critical battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada.

Vice President Harris's Response

In the new ad released by the Harris campaign, the vice president directly addresses Hinchcliffe's remarks and the Trump administration's response to Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017. "I will never forget what Donald Trump did. He abandoned the island and offered nothing more than paper towels and insults," Harris says. "Puerto Ricans deserve better. As president, I will always fight for you."

The Puerto Rican Vote

While Puerto Rico itself has no say in the outcome of the presidential election, the Puerto Rican diaspora in the continental United States could play a crucial role in determining who occupies the Oval Office. In Pennsylvania alone, there are more than 620,000 Puerto Ricans living in the state, accounting for approximately 8% of the total population. Many of these Puerto Ricans reside in swing districts, such as the Allentown-based district represented by Congresswoman Susan Wild, who condemned Hinchcliffe's remarks as "reprehensible, dangerous, hateful rhetoric."