NiLP National Latino Opinion Leaders Survey
Latino Opinion Leaders on the 3rd and Final 2016 Presidential Debate
By Angelo Falcón
The NiLP Report (October 21, 2016)
Latino opinion leaders overwhelmingly concluded that Hillary Clinton won the 3rd and final Presidential debate held on October 19, 2016 in Las Vegas. Based on a survey of 213 Latino opinion leaders from 26 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico, the National Institute for Latino Policy conducted an online survey on October 20th on their assessment of the debate. The results are reported for three subgroups of the Latino opinion leaders: Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Other Latinos.
Asked who they felt won the 3rd Presidential debate, there was a near consensus (84-93 percent) that Hillary Clinton won.
|
Latino Opinion Leaders: |
|||
|
Who won the 3rd Presidential debate overall? |
|||
|
Mexican |
Puerto Rican |
Other Latino |
|
|
Hillary Clinton |
90.3% |
84.3% |
92.7% |
|
Donald Trump |
6.5% |
5.9% |
2.4% |
|
It was a draw |
1.6% |
4.9% |
0.0% |
|
Don't know |
1.6% |
3.9% |
0.0% |
|
Not sure |
0.0% |
1.0% |
4.9% |
|
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
|
|
Source: NiLP Latino Opinion Leaders Survey (October 20, 2016) |
|||
Large majorities of the Latino opinion leaders who identified as politically Moderate-to-Liberal felt that Clinton won, compared to 57 percent of the Conservatives who felt that Trump won the debate.
|
Latino Opinion Leaders: |
||||
|
Who won the 3rd Presidential debate overall? |
||||
|
What is your general political orientation? |
||||
|
Conservative |
Moderate |
Liberal |
Progressive |
|
|
Hillary Clinton |
14.3% |
81.1% |
95.7% |
96.0% |
|
Donald Trump |
57.1% |
7.5% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
It was a draw |
14.3% |
3.8% |
4.3% |
1.0% |
|
Don't know |
14.3% |
5.7% |
0.0% |
1.0% |
|
Not sure |
0.0% |
1.9% |
0.0% |
2.0% |
|
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
|
|
Source: NiLP Latino Opinion Leaders Survey (October 20, 2016) |
||||
However, this was not the case in tertms of political aprty affiliation. Among the Latino opinion leaders, even a majority of those identifying as Republicans felt that Clinton had won the debate, along with mufh higher percentages of those identifying with the other parties.
|
Latino Opinion Leaders: |
||||
|
Who won the 3rd Presidential debate overall? |
||||
|
Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or something else? |
||||
|
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
Something else |
|
|
Hillary Clinton |
57.1% |
91.1% |
89.5% |
77.3% |
|
Donald Trump |
28.6% |
3.2% |
8.8% |
0.0% |
|
It was a draw |
0.0% |
2.4% |
1.8% |
9.1% |
|
Don't know |
14.3% |
1.6% |
0.0% |
9.1% |
|
Not sure |
0.0% |
1.6% |
0.0% |
4.5% |
|
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
|
|
Source: NiLP Latino Opinion Leaders Survey (October 20, 2016) |
||||
Clinton was viewed as having done as having done a better job in the debate by most of the Latino opinion leaders (85-95 percent).
|
Latino Opinion Leaders: |
|||
|
Regardless of which candidate you happen to support, who do you think did the better job Wednesday night's debate -- Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump? |
|||
|
Mexican |
Puerto Rican |
Other Latino |
|
|
Hillary Clinton |
91.9% |
85.3% |
95.1% |
|
Donald Trump |
6.5% |
8.8% |
2.4% |
|
Don't know |
1.6% |
2.0% |
0.0% |
|
Not sure |
0.0% |
3.9% |
2.4% |
|
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
|
|
Source: NiLP Latino Opinion Leaders Survey (October 20, 2016) |
|||
The Latino opinion felt that Clinton won the debate in all of the major areas and topics covered in the debate, especially in her fitness to be President.
|
Latino Opinion Leaders: |
|||
|
Percent feeling Hillary Clinton won the debate in the following policy areas or topics? |
|||
|
Mexican |
Puerto Rican |
Other Latino |
|
|
Immigration |
85.5% |
78.6% |
90.2% |
|
Entitlements and debt |
85.5% |
76.7% |
80.5% |
|
The Supreme Court |
90.2% |
87.3% |
85.4% |
|
The economy |
82.3% |
75.7% |
87.8% |
|
Foreign policy |
90.3% |
71.8% |
87.8% |
|
Fitness to serve as President |
90.3% |
83.5% |
95.0% |
|
Closing Statement |
88.3% |
79.6% |
92.7% |
|
Source: NiLP Latino Opinion Leaders Survey (October 20, 2016) |
|||
The Latino opinion leaders across the board also felt that Clinton exhibited major Presidential qualities and characteristics better than Trump.
|
Latino Opinion Leaders: |
|||
|
Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please indicate whether you think each one better described Hillary Clinton than Donald Trump during Wednesday night's debate. |
|||
|
Mexican |
Puerto Rican |
Other Latino |
|
|
Had a good understanding of the issues |
96.6% |
94.0% |
100.0% |
|
Appeared presidential |
96.6% |
94.0% |
100.0% |
|
Was more likable |
96.4% |
91.7% |
95.0% |
|
Was inspiring |
95.7% |
87.8% |
97.4% |
|
Source: NiLP Latino Opinion Leaders Survey (October 20, 2016) |
|||
The moderator, Fox News' Chris Wallace, received high marks by the Latino opinion leaders for his fairness to bother candidates.
|
Latino Opinion Leaders: |
|||
|
Do you feel the debate moderator was fair in his treatment of the candidates? |
|||
|
Mexican |
Puerto Rican |
Other Latino |
|
|
No, he was biased against Donald Trump |
1.6% |
1.9% |
2.4% |
|
No, he was biased against Hillary Clinton |
12.9% |
5.8% |
7.3% |
|
He was unfair to both candidates |
1.6% |
1.9% |
0.0% |
|
He treated both candidates equally fairly |
83.9% |
83.7% |
87.8% |
|
Don't know |
0.0% |
3.8% |
0.0% |
|
Not sure |
0.0% |
2.9% |
2.4% |
|
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
|
|
Source: NiLP Latino Opinion Leaders Survey (October 20, 2016) |
|||
The Latino opinion leaders were divided as to whether they found this debate helpful on who to vote for President.
|
Latino Opinion Leaders: |
|||
|
Was this debate helpful to you in making a decision on who to vote for President? |
|||
|
Mexican |
Puerto Rican |
Other Latino |
|
|
Yes |
41.9% |
44.7% |
52.5% |
|
No |
56.5% |
54.4% |
45.0% |
|
Don't know |
0.0% |
0.0% |
2.5% |
|
Not sure |
1.6% |
1.0% |
0.0% |
|
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
|
|
Source: NiLP Latino Opinion Leaders Survey (October 20, 2016) |
|||
Large majorities of the Latino opinion leaders indicated that they planned to vote for Clinton for President in November. Although strong majorities of all three groups of Latino opinion leaders stated they planned to vote for Clinton, her support was weakest among the Puerto Rican and strongest among the Other Latino opinion leaders.
|
Latino Opinion Leaders: |
|||
|
For whom do you plan to vote for President in November? |
|||
|
Mexican |
Puerto Rican |
Other Latino |
|
|
Hillary Clinton (Democratic Party) |
83.9% |
69.6% |
92.5% |
|
Donald Trump (Republican Party) |
3.2% |
4.9% |
2.5% |
|
Jill Stein (Green Party) |
6.5% |
8.8% |
2.5% |
|
I will only vote for Congress |
1.6% |
3.9% |
0.0% |
|
I plan to write-in my choice for President |
0.0% |
2.9% |
0.0% |
|
I am still undecided |
4.8% |
3.9% |
0.0% |
|
I do not plan to vote at all |
0.0% |
2.0% |
2.5% |
|
Don't know |
0.0% |
2.0% |
0.0% |
|
Not sure |
0.0% |
2.0% |
0.0% |
|
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
|
|
Source: NiLP Latino Opinion Leaders Survey (October 20, 2016) |
|||
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
The NiLP Report on Latino Policy & Politics is an online information service provided by the National Institute for Latino Policy. For further information, visit www.latinopolicy. org. Send comments to editor@latinopolicy.org.