Trump team on defensive over racist rhetoric

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump was struggling on Monday to contain a fierce backlash to racist rhetoric targeting Puerto Ricans at his weekend rally, just eight days ahead of a presidential election that could be determined by the Latino vote.

The Republican was seeking to spell out his closing pitch and energize his base with the extravaganza at New York´s Madison Square Garden but made news instead for a series of crass remarks from allies giving warm-up speeches.

Residents of Puerto Rico, an American island territory in the Caribbean, cannot take part in US elections but the diaspora living in the United States numbers almost six million, according to Pew Research Centre, and is eligible to vote.