The recent embrace and awkward kiss between Donald Trump and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio at a town hall-style event in Phoenix has been turned into a digital campaign ad by the Biden campaign, highlighting Arpaio’s history of racial profiling and misconduct. The ad includes clips of Arpaio’s controversial statements and actions, leading to legal troubles and Trump’s eventual pardon of him for criminal contempt of court. The ad is running on social media platforms in Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.
Arpaio is known for his racially bigoted immigration policies, such as holding immigrants in tent cities and making male immigrant detainees wear pink underwear. His actions, along with the 2010 state law SB1070, mobilized Latino voters in recent elections, including in 2020 when Arizona voted for a Democrat for president. The Biden campaign criticized Trump for his close relationship with Arpaio, accusing him of attacking and vilifying Latinos, and underestimating the political power of the Latino community.
The rise in migrant arrivals at the border during Trump’s administration has become a rallying point for his campaign, with polls showing increased support for tougher immigration measures among Latino and other voters. However, surveys indicate that Latinos are less likely to support immigration crackdowns and increased deportations compared to non-Latinos. Trump has repeatedly criticized Biden for allowing illegal immigrants into the country and has made immigration a central issue in his public comments.
Trump has previously made controversial statements about immigrants, including calling them “poison” and vowing to conduct mass deportations on his first day back in office. He has accused Biden of allowing criminals into the country, citing the arrival of Venezuelans at the border. Despite Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric, the Biden campaign believes that Trump’s association with Arpaio will not go unnoticed by Latino voters and could have consequences for Trump’s reelection bid.
The focus on immigration issues in the campaign comes at a time when tensions are high at the border and communities are struggling to deal with an influx of migrants. Trump’s tough stance on immigration has resonated with some voters, but his close ties to Arpaio, a controversial figure with a history of racial profiling, could raise questions about Trump’s commitment to all Americans. The digital campaign ad by the Biden campaign serves as a reminder of Arpaio’s troubled past and the implications of Trump’s association with him.
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