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NM Republicans Weigh In On Trump and The Republican Primary

Michael Vadon

Some political analysts say to win the 2016 Presidential election Republicans must do a better job reaching Latinos, millennials and women. Some New Mexico Republicans are worried about another challenge, they’re concerned Donald Trump’s candidacy is compromising the party’s appeal.

Let’s quantify the challenge the Republican party is facing in the upcoming election. According to 2015 Pew Research Center data.

51% of millennials lean Democratic just 35% support Republicans.

When it comes to women: 52% Democratic to 36% Republican.

Hispanics: 56% Democratic to 36% Republican.

Republican Neal Hooks lost to a Democrat in last year’s race for the District 33 New Mexico House seat.  Hooks says it’s not about Republican policy it’s about voter perceptions.

“How do we fix the image? I think that is a hard thing to do” Hooks said.

Hooks says the antidote might already be on hand; the diversity of Republican Presidential candidates.

“I mean we got women, minorities we have rich, average people. Just a good mix basically and I think it is good for the party.” Hooks said.

At least that was until Donald Trump entered the race and started making comments like this.

When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems to us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people! Donald Trump said.

‘’That offends a lot of Hispanics. I don’t think that is constructive. I don’t think it accurate, so I wouldn’t say it to begin with and I don’t think it is constructive. So yes I do think he is a hindrance” Hooks said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G8XpHtujVo

Spanish language network Univision conducted a poll; 79% of respondents said they found Trump’s comments offensive.

Former ASNMSU college president Wes Jackson says Republicans have had a disconnect with minority voters and he says statements like Trumps offend and alienate existing supporters.

“That is not my family by any means my father was born in Mexico came her the legal way served in the armed forces, gave my brothers the opportunity to go to college. I think these are the type of stories that you’ll see more often than the drug dealers and the rapist coming across the border.” Jackson said.

According to the same Univision poll 61% of respondents did recognize the difference between Trump’s positions and those of all Republicans.

Still Jackson says he’s concerned Trump is taking air-time away from Republican candidates deserving of Latino and millennial voters’ attention. Like Florida Senator Marco Rubio; the son of Cuban immigrants and the youngest candidate in the Republican primary. 

“I think he has the ability to do what Barack Obama did in 2008. That is basically capture the young vote and the minority vote for the Republican party.’ Jackson said.

But the latest Gallup poll regarding Hispanics showed only 40 percent of Hispanics were even familiar with presidential candidate Senator Marco Rubio. 

Republican Betty Bishop lost to a Democrat in a 2014 state house race. Bishop says Trump is also overshadowing GOP progress with women when social media blew up over the misogynistic comments Trump made against Fox news anchor Megyn Kelly.

Carly Fiorina; the first major female candidate to seek the Republican Presidential nomination- remains the second-least familiar contender in the field according to a Gallup poll.

“Republican party often gets accused of being the party of old white men. We are offering the most diversity on this presidential level, the campaigning level right now we have a woman that is running. Bishop said.

But that woman Fiorina is against abortion rights and against legislating equal pay. A 2015 Gallup poll says 54% of women identify as pro choice.  Fiorina only supports abortion rights in cases of rape, incest or threat to the mother’s life.

Still according to a study produced by the magazine Campaigns & Election Democratic leaning women, Hispanics and millennials were most likely to shift their vote to the Republican Party after coming in contact with anti-abortion campaigns.
But right now the Donald is trumping issues in the campaign.

Betty Bishop says there might be a silver lining to Trump’s blunt and off the cuff demeanor.

“I think he is saying some of the things that need to be said” Bishop said.

Bishop says she likes Trump’s stance on immigration.
But Neal Hooks contends Trump is taking attention away from more important issues like the economy, tax reform and foreign policy.

In the end Hooks says Trump does not have the stamina to hold his ground against candidates like Bush, Rubio and Fiorina.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll found Trump with 28 percent support among registered Republicans. His closest competitor, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson was far behind with just 12 percent support.

Simon Thompson was a reporter/producer for KRWG-TV's Newsmakers from 2014 to 2017. Encores of his work appear from time to time on KRWG-TV's Newsmakers and KRWG-FM's Fronteras-A Changing America.