Asked to name three of her rival’s virtues, the vice president says, ‘I think Donald Trump loves his family, and I think that is very important.’
Enrique Acevedo, a Mexico-based anchor, moderated the town hall, which featured nearly 100 Latino voters from across the nation.
Harris fielded questions about healthcare policy, immigration, inflation, abortion rights, and the federal government’s response to recent hurricanes. She defended her record on immigration and repeated her support for “Dreamers,” stating that they should be on a path to earn their citizenship.
She also talked about the border bill negotiated in the Senate early this year, blaming former President Donald Trump, her election rival, for derailing it.
One notable moment occurred when a voter asked the Democratic candidate to name three virtues of Trump.
“I think Donald Trump loves his family, and I think that is very important,” Harris responded.
She said, however, that she didn’t know the Republican nominee well enough. “I don’t have much more to offer you,” Harris said.
In another notable moment, an undecided voter expressed his frustration over the way President Joe Biden quit the race and questioned how Harris became the party’s nominee.
Harris thanked the voter for being “candid” and praised Biden for making a decision she believed history would recognize as “one of the most courageous that a president could make.”
The vice president added that she had been “partners” with Biden for the past four years and was “honored to have earned the Democratic nomination.” She also mentioned that numerous individuals and organizations, including some Republicans, had endorsed her.
After the event, Harris flew to Phoenix for a rally in another battleground state.
A recent survey, however, shows that the Republican nominee is gaining support among this key Democratic voter group and narrowing the gap with Harris.
Low support for Harris is most pronounced among young Latino men, as highlighted by a new USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll.
The Spanish language network earlier announced that it would not fact-check candidates on stage during the town halls.
Harris will also participate in CNN’s live town hall on Oct. 23 in Pennsylvania, according to the network.
Since the 2020 presidential election, the number of Latino eligible voters has grown by 12 percent, the second-fastest rate of any major racial or ethnic group in the U.S. electorate, the study showed. The Asian eligible voter population grew by 15 percent.
Latinos are likely to account for nearly 15 percent of all eligible voters nationwide in November 2024, playing a critical role in determining who will be president.
