Noticiero Univision Dismantles Myths About Hispanic Voters With Bipartisan Poll

Written by Dina Radtke

Published

Univision’s Noticiero Univision highlighted a bipartisan poll that debunked myths about the Hispanic electorate, explaining that  Latino voters still have an unfavorable view of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump -- the majority responding that he is “racist” -- and that immigration is not the issue they consider the most important.

The Univision poll found that the economy was the top issue that motivated Hispanics to vote, and while immigration was the second most pertinent issue for Hispanic voters, terrorism and gun control were also high on the list. Treating Hispanic voters as a group only interested in one issue -- immigration -- reflects a media pattern that “silos” Hispanics and diminishes their voices on other issues that impact them. While right-wing media figures have wrongly interpreted polls to claim that Donald Trump is doing well with Hispanics, this segment shows that “Hillary Clinton holds a 48 point advantage over Donald Trump,” and that 73 percent of Latino voters surveyed consider Donald Trump is “racist.”

Translated from the July 14 edition of Univision’s Noticiero Univision:

MARIA ELENA SALINAS (HOST): Let's go now to the exclusive Univision News poll among Latino voters in which Hillary Clinton holds a 48 point advantage over Donald Trump. If they elections were today, Clinton would receive 67 percent of the Latino vote and Trump barely 19. 8 percent would vote for other candidates and only 6 percent are still undecided, which suggests that Trump has a small margin to increase his support among Latino voters. Lourdes del Río has more results from the bipartisan poll.

LOURDES DEL RÍO (CORRESPONDENT): The comments that Trump has made about undocumented immigrants have generated huge controversies and countless criticisms. Even so, he has insisted that Latinos adore him and will vote for him in November. But a new exclusive survey by Univision News suggests the opposite. While 69 percent said they have a favorable opinion of Democratic hopeful, more than three quarters or 77 percent have said they have an unfavorable opinion of Donald Trump.

FERNAND AMANDI (POLLSTER): Hillary Clinton has a high level of support among Hispanics across the political landscape. How would she manage the economy? How would she manage the issue of terrorism? How would she manage the issues that impact the lives of Hispanics? In point after point after point, Hispanics are choosing Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump.

DEL RÍO: The poll by Bendixen & Amandi and The Tarrance Group was bipartisan and focused on Latinos born here as well as foreign-born. When they were asked if they think Trump is racist, 73 percent answered yes and only 20 percent answered no.

LORENZO PALOMARES (TRUMP SURROGATE): I understand that Mr. Trump is not racist. He is a patriotic person who loves his country. That is something he is demonstrating. At the same time, it's something we have to work on after this campaign and in the convention that is coming up this week to change this perception from people so that they see that there is a big difference between patriotism and racism.

DEL RÍO: But the survey was not all good news for the ex-secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Notably 42 percent saw her as a liar, compared to 39 percent who felt differently.

AMANDI: A concerning number for Hillary Clinton because I think Hispanics heard the FBI director when he said what Clinton said on the issue of her emails did not have foundation in the truth.

FRANK MORA (DEMOCRATIC ANALYST): I think it's due more than anything else in part to the last 25 or 30 years, the personal attacks against her have been systematic and non-stop.. And this creates a perception that is not easy to overcome.

DEL RÍO: Among the issues that motivate Hispanics to go out and vote, immigration occupied the second place on the list with a solid 18 percent. Only jobs and the economy came ahead with 25 percent. Concerns about terrorism, which took third place in this category with 12 percent was followed by the need to control the sale of firearms at 9 percent.

AMANDI: I think this has to do with all of the incidents we have seen in the entire country where assault weapons have been responsible for many killings.

DEL RÍO: In fact, the question of whether one is in favor or against prohibiting military grade assault weapons, more than half said yes, 37 percent said no. Another result from this survey that calls a lot of attention is that the majority of those surveyed said that if a presidential candidate were to choose a Hispanic as a running mate to be vice president, it would not be something that would incline him/her to favor that candidate with his/her vote.