Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Ron DeSantis' popularity among Latinos is the fault of hapless Democrats

By Julio Ricardo Varela, MSNBC Opinion Columnist

Despite political predictions in September that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had made a “huge mistake” when he authorized the trafficking of mostly Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Vineyard using state money, two polls released this week (one by Telemundo/LX News and one by Futuro Media, the company I work for) show, respectively, that DeSantis is winning the Latino v**e in his run for re-e******n and that he is the most popular politician among Florida’s Latino v**ers.

Two polls released this week show that DeSantis is the most popular politician among Florida’s Latino v**ers.

While it might be tempting to give all the credit to DeSantis and the Republican Party, the governor’s popularity among Latinos is more a function of how Democrats failed miserably to maintain the momentum they gained during the 2008 and 2012 e******n cycles, when Barack Obama won the state. Back then, Democrats were praised for understanding how Latino v**ers were changing the state and for being ahead of a t***sformation that moved away from the traditional Cuban v**er base and gravitated toward a growing Puerto Rican population as well as v**ers from Latin America. But those days are gone.

The Future Media poll shows that 43% of likely Latino v**ers have a "very favorable" view of DeSantis, and 9% have a "somewhat favorable" view of him for an overall favorability rating of 52%. Sen. Marco Rubio has an overall favorability rating of 50% and former President Donald Trump, 48%. Latinos account for 21% of the state’s eligible v**ers. Even as DeSantis’ Martha’s Vineyard stunt was being condemned, there was plenty of support from mostly Venuezuelan conservatives in Florida who saw the stunt as an effective way to criticize President Biden’s immigration policy and call attention to the “delinquents” leaving the South American country. But it’s not just Venezuelans or even conservative Latinos.

According to Telemundo/LX News poll, 50% of Florida's Latino likely v**ers approved of his flying those Venezuelan migrants to Martha's Vineyard, and only 43% of those v**ers disapproved. Overall, 56% of these Latino likely v**ers approved of DeSantis' job performance.

Just how bad is it for Democrats? In his re-e******n bid against Democrat Charlie Crist, DeSantis is likely to become the first Republican to win traditionally blue Miami-Dade County in 20 years. In the 10 years since Obama’s second Florida win, no Democrat has won a major e******n in Florida. Not a p**********l race. Not a Senate race. Not a governor’s race.

Democrats are apparently conceding Florida, and DeSantis will likely be a 2024 p**********l candidate with strong support from Latino v**ers in a pivotal E*******l College state.

How did it get to be like this?

During the 2020 e******n cycle, several political organizers publicly lamented that efforts by Florida Democrats to reach the state’s 1 million eligible Puerto Rican v**ers clearly missed the mark, especially after 2018, when Republican Rick Scott successfully courted Puerto Rican v**ers to win a Senate race over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson. Many of those Puerto Rican v**ers were new to Florida and were still recovering from the shocks of Hurricane Maria in 2017.

The Telemundo poll shows 59% of Puerto Rican v**ers favor Crist in the gubernatorial race, and 37% favor DeSantis. By 53% to 43%, Latino v**ers who are neither Cuban nor Puerto Rican favor Crist. But Democrats have done a poor job exciting that constituency.

This e******n cycle, as Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz has promised to focus on “pocketbook issues,” the party has still been dogged by questions over whether it understands the diversity of Florida’s new Latino e*****rate.

“The economy, education, health care — those are things that the Democratic Party has focused on in the past year,” Diaz noted back then. “We don’t need to focus on these useless culture wars.”

However, as the Futuro Media poll noted earlier this week, 52% of Latinos in Florida said their economic situation had worsened under President Joe Biden, and 13% said it had improved. It’s no wonder that Biden’s approval rating in the poll was at 43%, a whole 9 points behind DeSantis’.

Such disparity suggests that even as DeSantis continues to be extreme on many controversial issues that deny the rights of women, children and families, avoiding “useless culture wars” to focus on economic issues has not resulted in success for Democrats.

In a state like Florida — where Latinos will continue to swing results — the level of outreach must get more granular and more complex.
There lies the bigger problem when it comes to Latinos and e******ns. The days of what could have been a more reliable Democratic v**e have long dissipated, whether that was a result of that party having taken Latinos for granted or effective “fear of socialism” from Republicans. In a state like Florida — where Latinos will continue to swing results — the level of outreach must get more granular and more complex. It must speak with authenticity and understanding. Until that happens, Democrats will just stay where they are — a bit stuck with no concrete vision or movement forward.

As a result, what happens in less than two weeks may likely prove that ideological changes among Latinos in Florida are no fluke, and as it has been reported before, “it could be too late” for Democrats to fix it even for this cycle or for several more to come.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Puerto Ricans are perfect democrat v**ers, huge egos and as a class they rely heavily on government assistance. Big reason that the Island has such financial problems and another big reason that the democrats want to make Puerto Rico the 51st state.

gorgehiker Loc: Lexington, Ky

I can't wait to see Donnie Boy and Ronnie Boy on a debate stage fighting each other for the nomination!

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

That's your only hope for 2024. Just why do you think that Hispanics are moving to the Republican Party? You really need to take a look at what is happening in this country and ask yourself if you think that the democrats are on the right path.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Only a moron would think the Dems are on the right path and they aren't going to speak up.

gorgehiker Loc: Lexington, Ky

I can't wait to see Don and Ron on a debate stage. The h**eful lies and accusations will set new records.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

And just think! I used to consider you an intelligent poster on this forum, surprise surprise, you have finally taken off your mask.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

He is a Dumbocrat after all.

gorgehiker Loc: Lexington, Ky

Are you and foto expecting a zen kumbaya debate between Don and Ron?

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

What I took exception to was your characterization of DeSantis.... Probably would have been more accurate had you been describing your own behavior over the last several weeks.

gorgehiker Loc: Lexington, Ky

Have you been stalking me?

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Not at all, but your snide posting is hard to miss.

jcboy3

I want to see them in a jello wrestling tub.

Wyantry Loc: SW Colorado

It would have to be a mutually agreed upon color of Jello.

Not orange—that would tip the scale toward “orange man”.

Not blue — that would be to, ah, “democratic”.

Not green — that would be reminiscent of “green slime”. (Would not want people thinking they were “slimy “).

Not white — that would imply some “white r****m “.

Not yellow — that might get some to believe they were cowardly.

Not black — that would be like dressing up in “blackface”. Demeaning and r****t.

That leaves:

RED— two redneck politicos writhing in red goo, whilst appealing to their “red” base is rather appropriate.