Marco Rubio increased his popularity among latin voters on the campaign trail in Iowa this week, chatting with a woman from San Salvador in Spanish.
The woman, Claudia Steele, who is now an American citizen and voter, told Mr. Rubio that she was the only Latina member of her local Republican organization.
The 2016 GOP contender responded, “Hay que cambiar eso,” meaning “We need to change that,” ABC news reported Friday.
The 44 year-old Florida Senator was welcomed openly by the Spanish speakers who came out to meet Mr. Rubio over the course of his three-day trip through the Hawkeye state.
According to 2003 U.S. Census bureau data, just 5.5 percent of the population of Iowa identifies as Hispanic or Latino, but many came out to support Mr. Rubio this week.
Mr. Rubio and fellow GOP candidate and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s ability to speak in Spanish is helping the two gain popularity with Latin voters, while Donald Trump continues to receive backlash over comments comparing illegal immigrants to rapists and drug dealers.
“It helps him communicate and connect with the community,” Ms. Steele said of Mr. Rubio in an interview with ABC News.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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