Biden’s COVID diagnosis canceled a Las Vegas announcement on initiatives aimed at Latinos

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — President Joe Biden’s positive COVID-19 test forced him to cancel two events on Wednesday in Las Vegas where he was planning to announce new programs aimed at turning out the Latino vote in November.

But, those plans ended after Biden’s radio interview at the Lindo Michoacan restaurant, located on East Desert Inn at Topaz.

In that interview, Biden began to cough midway through a sentence as he was defending the decision to stay in the presidential race.

“He’s 81 years old. What happens when he’s 84 years old? What happens?” Biden said as he began trailing off with a cough.

The interview was with Univision Radio. Biden said he believes strongly in the Latino vote.

“Most communities don’t really begin to focus on the election until they get into September,” the president said. “All the talk about who is leading and where and how.  Everything so far between (Donald) Trump and me has been basically even.”

Biden had planned to discuss several initiatives on Wednesday. He said those initiatives ensure Latinos have a fair shot at the American dream.

One involved DACA — also known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. It’s a program started under the Obama administration that protects undocumented immigrants who came to this country illegally as children from being deported.

Astrid Silva is executive director of Dream Big Nevada, a progressive group. She’s a beneficiary of DACA.

“We’re excited to hear about the expansion to Obamacare. There’s a lot of scholarships and things that we’re still ineligible for, and I think with the announcement yesterday, we’re going to see a lot of differences in that,” Silva said.

Silva spoke at a political event the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters had on Thursday in Las Vegas.

Lee Mercado was one of those in attendance.

“(I) didn’t get through high school honestly, so I’m grateful to be where I’m at, making the money I’m making, having the benefits I have, and to be able to provide for my family,” Mercado said. He moved to Las Vegas from Puerto Rico nearly 20 years ago.

According to the White House, the new initiatives are intended to help keep the Latino unemployment rate low.

Mercado says yes, the economy is one of his top issues. But he also has other priorities.

“Putting more conscious to the education part now that I have my daughter, so I’m looking towards that too. That’s going to be big in voting for me,” Mercado said.

The Trump campaign sent 8 News Now a statement responding to President Biden’s initiatives.

“Despacito Biden has taken minority communities for granted for far too long, and Hispanic American voters know that crooked Joe has failed us over and over again. President Trump made the American Dream achievable for all Americans once and he will do it again when we elect him as the next President of the United States,” Danielle Alvarez, the Trump Campaign Senior Advisor, said.

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