Pence rallies 'Latinos for Trump' in Miami

Vice president campaigns in Miami ahead of first Democratic primary debates

MIAMI ā€“ Vice President Mike Pence is launching a "Latinos for Trump"Ā coalition in Miami, an effort by President Donald Trump's campaign to engage Latino voters in advance of the 2020 election.

The event comes a day ahead of the first Democratic presidential primary debates, also being held in Miami, and a week after Trump officially kicked off his campaign in Orlando.

This signals Florida'sĀ significance for the president's re-election hopes.

The state is home to more than 2 million registered Latino voters, and the Trump campaign believes they have an opening with them because of the president'sĀ economic policies, which they say have contributed to low unemployment rates among Latinos, among other issues.

Republicans see an opportunity particularly in South Florida, where the sizable Cuban population tends to lean conservative.

Organizers of the debate, meanwhile, did a final walk through Tuesday of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, where the Democratic presidential candidates will spar face-to-face for the first time Wednesday.

Those already in town, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Beto O'Rourke, worked the circuit ahead of the debate.

Warren will host a town hall Tuesday night at Florida International University andĀ O'RourkeĀ metĀ with educators and their unions earlier in the day at North Miami Middle School.

"In this state you ranked 45th in teacher pay last year," O'Rourke said. "You now rank 46th in teacher pay in this country."Ā 


About the Authors:

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.