In the home stretch of the 2024 election, after a racist comment at a Trump rally comparing Puerto Rico to garbage, both parties are trying to fan political flames to burn the opposition on congressional races, in addition to the presidential contest.

In the hours after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe told a racist joke about Puerto Ricans at a rally for former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Democrats circulated a list of competitive U.S. House races in which people of Puerto Rican descent make up large percentages of the electorate.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Republican operatives have tried to seize on a gaffe by President Biden, in which he used the term “garbage” to describe the Trump supporter who made the racist joke. But Republicans have accused Mr. Biden of instead referring to all Trump supporters as “garbage” and are trying to tie Democratic congressional candidates to their accusation regarding the president’s words.

The dual controversies are being amplified and shifting the closing messages in the final few days before Election Day, amid highly competitive contests for control of the Senate and House.

According to a memo obtained by CBS News from Democratic campaign operatives, more than 10% of registered voters in Pennsylvania’s competitive 7th District House race are people of Puerto Rican descent. The memo also said at least 4% of registered voters have ties to Puerto Rico in a three competitive House races in New York, two more in Pennsylvania and at least one each in Florida and Connecticut. 

Leaning into the Madison Square Garden rally controversy, Rep. Susie Lee, a Pennsylvania Democrat defending the battleground 7th Congressional District in and around Allentown, has already raised the issue.   Speaking to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “I am hearing more on this than I’ve heard on almost any other issue this entire campaign season.”

On Long Island, in New York’s competitive 4th District House race, Democratic candidate Laura Gillen amplified the firestorm over the racist joke Tuesday. Rep. Nydia Valazquez, a New York Democrat who was born in Puerto Rico, who was speaking at a Gillen campaign event for small businesses, referenced the controversy and joke.

Fighting to hold a competitive seat in Western Connecticut, Democratic Rep. Jahanna Hayes posted on social media, “Every person, not just the Puerto Rican community, should be saddened and upset by the behavior of the Trump rally at MSG.”

Republicans meanwhile are seeking to magnify President Biden’s potential gaffe from Tuesday.

“The President of the United States just smeared half of the country – House Democrats can speak up now to disagree, or their silence will say everything voters need to know,” GOP North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement.

Rep. Marc Molinaro, a first-term Republican who’s trying to defend his New York 19th Congressional District seat, posted on social media about Biden’s statement. Molinaro wrote in part, “Biden says if you don’t support Kamala Harris, you are garbage.”

Scott MacFarlane

Scott MacFarlane is a congressional correspondent. He has covered Washington for two decades, earning 20 Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards. His reporting has resulted directly in the passage of five new laws.