Joe Biden has a Latino voter problem. He doesn't speak their language

Joe Biden has a problem with Latino voters that could cost him Arizona and the White House.

It’s a language barrier.

Take a look at a quote from a Biden campaign spokesman in a recent Wall Street Journal story that explored the problem.

“We know our agenda is strong and resonant among Latinos, and we also know it’s going to take time and effort on our part to meet Latinos where they are and bring them into our coalition,” Kevin Munoz said.

“Trump is doing nothing to talk to Latino voters.”

Biden won't win speaking in liberal chatbot

Agenda? Resonant? Coalition?

Whether Donald Trump is talking to Latinos is a separate issue. But I can guarantee you that when he does, he won’t be using this kind of “well, actually” liberal chatbot vocabulary.

He’ll be speaking plainly and directly.

If Democrats are trying to connect with blue-collar voters (of any race or ethnicity), they shouldn’t be talking like know-it-all college protesters camped outside a dean’s office.

They should be saying things like: “We have a plan. We’re going to keep you safe and make sure you have good jobs.”

And then they should articulate that plan with as few SAT words as possible.

No wonder polls suggest Biden is trailing

This is worse than talking baseball with someone who yammers on about “exit velocity” and “launch angle” to describe a home run.

That kind of language is fine for nerds trying to impress other nerds. The rest of us would say, “Alex Verdugo clobbered it.” Or that “he smacked the ball so hard, you could hear it scream on its way over the fence.”

If you think I’m overstating the problem, consider a recent New York Times analysis that showed Trump leading Biden in Arizona, a state where Latinos represent about 1 in every 4 voters, 49% to 42%.

The same poll, a collaboration between The Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Siena College, showed Democratic Senate hopeful Ruben Gallego with a 45% to 41% advantage over Re-Trump-lican Kari Lake.

A recent Wall Street Journal poll, meanwhile, showed Trump with a lead over Biden among Latino men in several battleground states, including Arizona.

Gallego can speak to Latino voters

So, what gives? Why is Gallego doing fine while Biden is struggling? Is this just a case of Latino voters supporting a Latino candidate?

Maybe.

Or maybe Gallego was in touch enough to pull up with a taco truck to a boxing gym on the West Side to watch a Canelo fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Gallego has every right: To proudly mention he's Latino

And just look at how he talks.

“I grew up in the neighborhoods that they are in right now,” Gallego said, explaining a big part of why he connects with Latinos.

He doesn’t have a “strong and resonant” “agenda” to “bring them into our coalition.”

He has a seat at a boxing gym to talk to people like they matter in a language that they speak: Plain.

It’s a lesson Biden needs to learn, or it’s going to cost him Arizona — and potentially the White House.

Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @SayingMoore.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Joe Biden trails Donald Trump in Arizona because of Latinos