A new pre-midterm elections poll commissioned by Univision and AARP sounded the alarm about – HOW CAN THIS BE POSSIBLE? – the finding that 47% of Florida’s Latino voters in the 50+ age bracket support President Donald Trump.
In his report on the poll, correspondent Luis Megid cautioned “you have to be careful” that while “the majority (of Latinos) are in disagreement with Trump, still there is a high percentage of older Latinos who back him, 47 percent in Florida”. Could it be that these Latinos actually see a correlation between President Trump’s policies and the “flourishing economy” - including record jobs numbers and record-low Hispanic employment - as even the wary correspondent indicates?
Below is how the Univision correspondent characterized the mid-term election prospects for Republicans, and then only featured a pro-Hillary, Democrat pollster putting negative spin on Trump’s surprisingly strong numbers among Florida Latinos.
LUIS MEGID, CORRESPONDENT, UNIVISION: But they have a great advantage, a flourishing economy. The disadvantage is the unpopularity of the President. But you have to be careful. At least in this survey, one can see the glass half full or half empty. Although the majority is in disagreement with Trump, still there is a high percentage of older Latinos who back him, 47 percent in Florida.
FERNAND AMANDI, PRESIDENT, BENDIXEN & AMANDI: I think it is amazing that this President, who is recognized in many aspects as the most hostile President to the interests of the Hispanic community, has this level of support.
What is also notable about the study is that it was done by Bendixen & Amandi, a firm that worked for both Obama and Hillary Clinton, among other Democratic Party candidates. According to the firm’s website, Fernand Amandi “has conceived, produced, and edited a number of successful television commercials…including the highly regarded “Nuestra Amiga” television spot for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign.”
No wonder Amandi is so upset and expresses such outrage; one can’t help but recall Google Head of Multicultural Marketing Eliana Murillo’s post-election sob story exposed by MRC Latino, in which she revealed that, believing pre-election day polls showing Hillary would win the 2016 election, “We really thought we had shown up to demonstrate our political power against a candidate who had vehemently offended our community.”
So after all of Bendixen & Amandi's efforts to manipulate public opinion for Democrats, Amandi just cannot fathom how so many Hispanics are applauding the President for what Univision’s Megid characterizes as Republicans’ “great advantage, a flourishing economy.”
Below is the complete transcript of the above-referenced report, as aired on the September 25, 2018 edition of Noticiero Univision.
ILIA CALDERÓN, NEWS ANCHOR, UNIVISION: A new inclusive survey from Univision and the American Association of Retired Persons, AARP for its English acronym, reveals that in Arizona, California and Florida, Hispanic voters 50 years-old and over are excited about the mid-term elections and that many are motivated by jobs and immigration. But as Luis Megid informs, President Trump will also be another important factor.
LUIS MEGID, CORRESPONDENT, UNIVISION: In just over a month, Americans will choose a new Congress. And although Donald Trump is not on the ballot, his personality is driving many to vote.
MAN ON CAMERA: We will take the majority away from Donald to the Democrats.
MEGID: The mid-term elections are definitely becoming a referendum of some sort about the President, that is one of the main findings of the Univision and the American Association of Retired Persons survey about people over 50 in California, Arizona and Florida.
FERNAND AMANDI, PRESIDENT BENDIXEN & AMANDI: In all of the States Latinos say that the number one issue is the presidency of Donald Trump and what the presidency represents. So he's going to be the phantom factor that is going to be above all other factors of this campaign.
MEGID: More than 70 percent of respondents does not view the President favorably, except in Florida where the dislike reaches 50%. But usually in the midterm elections, the party that is in the White House loses seats in Congress. This year they are Republicans, but they have a great advantage, a flourishing economy. The disadvantage is the unpopularity of the President. But you have to be careful. At least in this survey, one can see the glass half full or half empty, although the majority is in disagreement with Trump, still there is a high percentage of older Latinos who back him, 47 percent in Florida.
AMANDI: I think it is amazing that this President who is recognized in many aspects as the most hostile president to the interests of the Hispanic community has this level of support.
MEGID: The million-dollar question now is whether the attitudes toward the President will translate into votes in favor or against their candidates. At least in this survey there are few who will vote for someone simply because they have Donald Trump´s support. What is clear is that there is much interest in voting among older Hispanics. In San Francisco, Luis Megid, Univision.
