Hillary Clinton, John Kasich score endorsements from U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce endorsed Hillary Clinton and John Kasich for their respective parties’ presidential nominations Thursday and cited GOP front-runner Donald Trump in saying the country cannot afford to have people who would divide the country and prey on Americans’ fears as president.

USHCC President and CEO Javier Palomarez cited Mrs. Clinton’s decades of experience and said she has “fought to ensure that those who are willing to work hard in America have the opportunity to get ahead and stay ahead.”

“She earned our endorsement because, unlike her primary Democratic opponent, Secretary Clinton has demonstrated the ability to enact a robust and pragmatic policy agenda that will allow the Hispanic small business community to thrive and prosper,” Mr. Palomarez said in a statement.

In his statement on Mr. Kasich, Mr. Palomarez said the Ohio governor has a proven ability to unite people across party lines “and has a track record of enacting bold, comprehensive policies to solve the problems that matter to Hispanic business owners, and all Americans.”

“There is so much at stake in this election and our country cannot afford to have those who would divide our nation and prey on the fears of the American people as our president,” Mr. Palomarez said.

“By way of example, Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric toward women, immigrants, the disabled, Muslims, and the Hispanic community not only divides our country, but sends a clear message that Hispanic voters won’t forget: he does not stand with our community,” he said.

Mr. Kasich has said it’s unrealistic for the federal government to boot every single illegal immigrant out of the country.

“Here is the fact, you don’t actually think folks that we are going to drive around in Canton, Ohio, and yank people out of their homes and ship them to Mexico, leaving their kids on their front porch? You really think that is going to happen?” Mr. Kasich said at an event last month.

“Of course it is not going to happen. So I am trying to come up with the best way. It is called common sense,” he said.

Mr. Kasich’s campaign touted the endorsement Thursday, but an immigrant advocacy group said the governor has not been a champion for the Latino community in Ohio.

Lynn Tramonte, director of Ohio’s Voice, said Latino families asked Mr. Kasich last year to end his opposition to President Obama’s deportation amnesties but Mr. Kasich declined to do so.

That “cannot be ignored,” Ms. Tramonte said.

Mrs. Clinton appears to have a firm grip on the Democratic nomination in her race against Sen. Bernard Sanders, while Mr. Kasich is holding out hope to sway delegates his way at an open GOP convention this summer.