Donald Trump’s winning chances improve despite Puerto Rico backlash

Despite an ongoing controversy over a speaker at a Republican candidate’s rally in New York calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage,” a prominent bookmaker has cut the odds on Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election in the past few days. is given

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made the comment during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Bookmaker Star Sports offered odds of 4/6 (60 percent) on Trump securing the White House before the rally, but it was cut to 4/7 (63.6 percent) at 5:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

Polls show the presidential race is still tight, with the latest analysis by polling website FiveThirtyEight, published Monday, giving Trump 54 percent of the win compared to Vice President Kamala Harris’ 46 percent. Got a chance. As a result, there is a laser focus on both campaigns for any perceived gaffe before Election Day.

Star Sports Betting analyst William Cadjani said Newsweek that “Despite the recent controversy at his rally in Madison Square Garden, Trump’s odds of returning to the White House actually dropped from 4/6 to 4/7 Saturday morning.

“Democratic nominee Kamala Harris appears to be struggling to arrest her slide, hitting 13/8 after last weekend’s 7/5.”

Kedjanyi added: “Confidence in Trump is increasing to the extent that his odds of winning all seven swing states have also dropped from 9/4 (30.8 percent) to 15/8 (34.8 percent).”

Betfair has also reduced the odds of a Trump win, from Trump 5/8 (62%) on Sunday morning to Trump 4/7 (64%) on Tuesday.

“While the Trump campaign has had to distance itself from the derogatory comments he made about Puerto Rico at his Madison Square Garden rally, betting markets believe Trump will win the White House,” Betfair spokesman Sam Rosebottom said. Support continues,” said Betfair spokesman Sam Rosebottom. Newsweek.

“In fact, as of today, Trump’s odds are at their lowest since Biden stepped aside. Trump now sits at 4/7 odds on the Betfair exchange, with a 64 percent chance of winning. No matter what obstacles he faces, Teflon seems to bounce back even stronger among punters [bettors]”

Republican National Committee spokesman Taylor Rogers welcomed Trump’s shift in odds.

“President Trump is the most popular presidential candidate in history — from historic rallies at Madison Square Garden to record-breaking podcasts with giants like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk,” Rogers said. Newsweek.

“President Trump’s message of hope and his America First agenda resonate with hard-working Americans and their families, and that’s why he’s winning or tied on every battleground. The momentum is on our side because voters want perfection. know [Harris] broke our country, and only President Trump can fix it.”

Newsweek The Harris campaign was reached for comment Tuesday by email outside regular office hours.

During his speech at Madison Square Garden, Hinchcliffe said: “I don’t know if you guys know this, but right now there’s a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean. I think it’s called Puerto Rico. “

Former Donald Trump speaks at his campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on October 27. Trump’s odds of winning the presidential election have improved since Sunday, according to a prominent bookmaker.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty

On Monday, the archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico urged Trump to apologize for Hinchcliffe’s comments in a letter to the former president, which was later posted on social media.

“I ask you, Mr. Trump, to refrain from making comments that reflect your personal or political views,” wrote Roberto González Nieves.

Puerto Rico Republican Party Chairman Angel Santern said Monday he would not support Trump unless the Republican presidential candidate apologizes for Hinchcliffe’s comments.

He said: “If Donald Trump doesn’t apologize to Puerto Rico, I won’t vote for him.”

People living in Puerto Rico cannot vote more than a token vote in presidential elections, but an estimated sixty million Puerto Ricans live in the mainland United States. There are states. are eligible to vote. Pennsylvania has a notable concentration in key battlegrounds.

Hinchcliffe defended his joke on X, formerly Twitter, insisting he “made fun of everyone” during the event.

Responding to criticism from Harris’s running mate, Tim Walls, he added: “I love Puerto Rico and vacationing there. I make fun of everybody… see the whole set. I’m a comedian. Tim… maybe it’s time to change your tampon.”

Some Republicans have dubbed Walls “Tampon Tim” in response to her signing a bill as governor of Minnesota that requires free menstrual products to be stocked in school bathrooms.

FiveThirtyEight’s latest analysis of recent polling, released Monday, gave Harris a 1.4 percentage point lead with 48.1 percent of the vote, compared to 46.6 percent for Trump.

However, because of the Electoral College system, Trump can lose the popular vote but still win overall, as he did against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Update 10/29/24, 11:45 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with Betfair’s difficulties and comments from Republican National Committee spokesman Taylor Rogers.

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