The Trump campaign is grappling with an October surprise stemming from derogatory remarks made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a rally in New York, just a week before Election Day.

Hinchcliffe, a warm-up speaker for former President Trump at Madison Square Garden, made a derogatory comment describing Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” which has ignited a fierce backlash.

Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democratic leaders are mobilizing efforts to amplify Hinchcliffe’s remarks among Latino voters in key battleground states. The comments could prove particularly damaging in Pennsylvania, where over 400,000 individuals of Puerto Rican descent reside. The state is currently a tight race, with Trump leading Harris by just 0.4 percentage points, according to polling averages.

Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha reported that his super PAC, Nuestro PAC, had already shared clips of Hinchcliffe’s comments with Puerto Rican voters in Pennsylvania. Rocha slammed the Trump campaign for what he termed an “unforced error” and emphasized the sensitivity of Puerto Rican voters to derogatory remarks about their homeland.

“It’s an unforced error from a campaign that has no strategic vision. Puerto Rican voters are very sensitive about their island and how you talk about their island — whether they themselves live on that island or in Allentown,” Rocha said.

At the rally, Hinchcliffe also used other racially charged language, including offensive references to Black people. These comments have sparked widespread condemnation. Harris has pointed to the incident as indicative of Trump’s divisive approach, launching a digital ad that features Hinchcliffe’s words and asserts that “Puerto Ricans deserve better.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, labeled the rally a “hate rally” during a recent MSNBC appearance, criticizing Hinchcliffe’s defense of his remarks and asserting that they cater to a culture of racism.

In response, the Trump campaign and several Republicans have sought to distance themselves from Hinchcliffe’s comments. Trump campaign senior adviser Danielle Alvarez stated that Hinchcliffe’s remarks do not reflect the views of Trump or his campaign. Florida Sen. Rick Scott quickly condemned the joke, emphasizing that Puerto Ricans are “amazing people and amazing Americans.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, downplayed the outrage, suggesting that people are too easily offended. The Trump campaign is still optimistic about improving their standing with Latino voters, particularly young men, despite the controversy.

However, the Trump campaign’s attempts to address the backlash from Tony Hinchcliffe’s controversial remarks have only intensified the criticism, leading to further outrage among Latino voters.

As Election Day looms, the fallout from Hinchcliffe’s comments could be pivotal. José Parra, a Democratic strategist, warned that if Pennsylvania swings toward the Democrats, this incident may be seen as a turning point in the election.