>> with just 5 days until the election, Chicagoans have already cast more than 320,000 ballots.

Among those are Latinos who make up an increasing number of voters across Illinois.

Both presidential candidates have made a point of reaching out to them in the final days of the campaign in their effort to win them over.

And joining us now to break it all down is Jose Sanchez.

Molina, communications and political consultant who previously served as deputy press secretary for Governor JB Pritzker.

And we have Jose Lopez, executive director of the Puerto Rican Culture Center.

We also reached out to the Chicago Republican Party, another Republican voters.

But we didn't hear back.

Now's Assange is the last time we spoke.

Vice President Kamala Harris was recently nominated in the Democratic convention was being held here.

Do you think she brought the energy to the campaign?

You said you were looking for?

>> Absolutely.

I think the convention not only began the rolling out of her policy platform, but I think she was also able to build on successfully on some of the policy victories that we have had here in Illinois.

Some of the same progressive miles so that she wants to achieve that the federal level.

And so I think she was able to carry that energy over not just to her campaign, that some of the other races that are up and down the ballot in other states.

And what messages from the vice president do you think are resonating with Latino supporters?

Would you say?

>> I think there's a big focus on making sure that home purchases become more affordable small business owners have an opportunity to do just that began a small business.

>> And then also a focus on education, making sure that that is a priority for our nation.

I think these are all things that resonate with voters right now.

>> In Mister Lopez, according to the Census data, the number of eligible voters in Illinois is increasing.

It also shows that eligible Latino voters in general are younger than other voting groups.

Are you seeing more engagement in this election from Latinos here in Chicago than in the past?

>> Well, absolutely special be in last few days after those incredible despicable comments made at a Trump Raleigh.

What is important us is that we need to be respected as a community.

They show.

This respect for us our community responded not only Chicago, but throughout the country and in a state like Pennsylvania, where there's a half a million Puerto Ricans word that a large Latino voting will is Puerto Rican.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is a transformative moment across the board for Puerto Rican and for appeals.

And one of the things that I think is very important.

Also note is that for too long?

Even many Puerto Ricans about that one.

All Trump and his campaign talks about not or about immigrants, they're going someone out for the first time.

Would know publicly what he thinks even though we knew in Puerto Rico why he before when he went work.

Every goal during the hurricane right after a game idea.

The house at the Puerto Rican people and then said, well, 16 people dead doesn't compared to Katrina.

And yet over $4.05 on the Puerto Rican die in Hurricane Maria.

In addition to it, I think that this has energized the community.

We have a hose Puerto Rican celebrities now endorsing openly endorsing including bed Barney, including Jennifer Lopez and a holes that are hair is now.

And there's a groundswell in our community.

And I think next to the is going to be transformative year.

An important legal because the candidate for.

part of the state pardon board illegal.

Jennifer Gonzalez is vice president that out.

The nose for Trump.

>> And Mr. Lopez, I want to talk about that comment that you mentioned, Sanchez, you know, earlier this week as he as he just said, a comedian at the Trump's rally, New York made a joke calling what the legal a floating pile of garbage.

We heard what Mister Lopez had to say would use in the Trump campaign distanced themselves from that joke saying it doesn't reflect their views.

Was that enough for Puerto Ricans?

Another Latino school were upset by that.

>> Absolutely not.

What I saw President Trump say is that he didn't know who the comedian was had no idea how he got on stage and all that.

And I think it's a pattern of what we continue to see President Trump to.

I was in.

I was working for Illinois governor when COVID happened.

Trump was m I a January 6.

Trump was am I a and I think this continues on that pattern of when things happen.

When things go wrong, he's nowhere to be seen.

There is no accountability.

And I think we're lucky in those one.

It was just an apology.

I'm sorry.

That was disrespectful.

That was out of line.

And please forgive me.

But he didn't do that.

To think this will have an impact on his campaign.

>> Absolutely.

I this is exactly what if you are on Vice President Harris's campaign, you want you want something that's going to energize base.

Voters get people out enough to get them to do that.

15 minute walk 30 minute drive to go and cast their ballot.

>> In Mister Lopez were just 5 days away from the election Day.

What does this growing demographic of voters mean for the upcoming election?

>> Well, it definitely means that we are the size of factor.

I want obviously most people don't think of Wisconsin and Michigan as having sizable Latino and Puerto Rican population in this Wisconsin, they're over 50,000 Puerto Rican.

They could easily make the difference in Wisconsin in Michigan, there and least 40,000 Puerto Rican.

They could easily make that difference.

We look at Georgia.

We look at North Carolina order because are now a sizable population and not the are a sizable population in states that will make the difference for the Electoral College.

Mr. Sanchez, a number of swing states have areas with high, as you mentioned, high Latino population in both candidates are making a point of addressing the Latino communities there.

>> What is the final push would say?

>> So the post show that the race is pretty tight and some of those battle states with decimals of a percentage.

And so they're out there trying to win votes.

I think what we want to see is Vice President Harris continued to tout some of the policy goals that she has in mind.

And I think what the what President Trump is trying to do is say forget about all the bad things that I've said, economy, economy, economy, but I don't think that's going to resonate based of had a couple of days ago.

>> And we know that the noles ago, the group's care about a variety of issues and have connected with Trump's message.

Some have connected with his message.

What do you think resonates with them from the Trump campaign?

You would say I think President Trump benefits from is perceived notion that Republicans really look out for voters when it comes to the economy.

But the data shows that when Democrats are in charge, they actually passed policy.

That stops increases the minimum wage and brings in more money for working families and their households.

So I think the data and, you know, actually Nicky Jam, he said it when he rescinded his and he says he supported Trump, said about a Trump and when he was sending his endorsement, he said I was only looking out for the for the Hondo.

Nicky Jam is a Puerto Rican rapper, a Puerto Rican rapper reggaeton artist sells millions of records has made songs without that funny people know.

>> And said I was looking out for the economy.

But based off of what was said at his rally, enough is enough.

That was a line that was too much for He took the endorsement back to well.

Thank you both for being here.

>> And the race for president, of course, isn't the only office you'll be voting for.