In another campaign blunder, the Biden-Harris campaign was criticized for not inviting prominent Latino Democratic backers to Miami for the launch of its Hispanic outreach program.
Miami Herald writer Fabiola Santiago criticized the Florida Democratic Party for having “three gringos” at the event, including Chairwoman Nikki Fried, gentleman number two Doug Emhoff, and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava of Miami-Dade County.
Santiago criticized Democrats for their “sad trombone” of optics, pointing out that Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden did not visit the Florida “kickoff” but instead went to places with a large Hispanic population, such as Arizona.
Trump, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting, maintains a year-round presence in the Florida neighborhood, where the GOP is actively recruiting.
Launching the initiative is the most recent indication that Biden’s campaign isn’t giving up on winning Florida in November, even though Democrats have had a tough time of it in the state for years, and there are indicators that its large Hispanic demographic is shifting to the Republican side. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas were absent from the ceremony.
The Florida Democratic Hispanic Caucus expressed disappointment with Santiago’s failure to recognize the presence of statewide Democratic leadership and diminished the critical role of Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. Cuba, who won Florida twice in 2016 and 2020, maintained that there is still time to reverse or at least limit the advances made by the GOP.
The ceremony occurred in Miami’s brand new DHCF offices, and the Miami-Dade Hispanic caucus president, Juan Cuba, hosted it. Rolando Barrero, president of the state Hispanic Caucus, Lourdes Diaz, president of Broward County, and Natascha Otero Santiago, vice chair of the Florida Democratic Party’s Hispanic Outreach Council, were among the numerous other Hispanic leaders acknowledged by the Democratic Hispanic Caucus.
The lineup of local Hispanic personalities is no replacement for government officials, and the Florida Democratic Party appreciated Mr. Emhoff’s presence.
