Clinton Holds Growing Lead Over Trump In Florida: Poll

Roughly a quarter of Florida’s population is of Hispanic origin – the third highest in the nation. As such, a series of comments and policy proposals by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has left a bitter taste in Florida voters’ mouths.

“Hispanics recognize that an attack on Mexicans is an attack on them,” Fernand Amandi, a Florida pollster told Politico. “If it’s Mexicans today, it could be Puerto Ricans tomorrow and Venezuelans next and Colombians the day after.”

In June 2015, Trump announced his presidential bid by saying that America has lost its greatness because countries like Mexico are sending “their worst people,” reports The Guardian.

“They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing their problems,” Trump continued. “They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some I assume are good people but I speak to border guards and they tell us what we are getting.”

Trump also proposed building a wall with Mexico – that Mexico would pay for – during this speech.

In May 2016, facing charges in federal court, Donald Trump called out the judge overseeing one of his cases.

“Everybody says it, but I have a judge who is a hater of Donald Trump, a hater,” he began, reports Politico. “He’s a hater. His name is Gonzalo Curiel.” Trump then added, “The judge, who happens to be, we believe, Mexican, which is great, I think that’s fine.”

The people of Florida have taken notice.

According to Politico, the latest Quinnipiac University Florida poll shows that Trump is trailing rival Hillary Clinton by eight percentage points. The poll shows Clinton with 47 percent support to Trump’s 39 percent. The results show a shift in the Democrat’s favor since a poll in May showed the two nearly tied.

“[Florida] is Hillary Clinton’s best state and perhaps Donald Trump’s toughest lift,” Peter Brown, assistant poll director for Quinnipiac, said. “One reason might be Florida has a larger Hispanic population than the other two states, and Trump has clashed with Hispanic leaders over some of his remarks.” 

Sources: Politico (2), The Guardian, Pew Research Center / Photo credit: Hillary Clinton/Instagram