Ever since Donald Trump decided to run for president, he has been getting a lot of attention. Mostly because of comments he made regarding Mexican immigrants, going as far as calling some of them rapists. Trump says his statement is backed up by a 2014 report about women raped while traveling to the border.
The firestorm over Trump's remarks comes as the GOP is trying to make inroads with hispanic voters to win back the White House in 2016. It's pushing his rivals like Jeb Bush to distance themselves.
"I don't agree with him," Bush said. "Pretty simple."
Local bay area attorney Daniel Alvarez thinks Trump has learned his lesson, but he isn't sure why the real estate mogul is running for president.
"I wonder if he is there kind of as a smoke screen to bring up some issues a lot of people want to talk about, but they are too afraid to talk about," Alvarez said.
Former New York governor George Pataki, who is also running for president, launched an online petition urging voters to "stand up to trump" after calling on his GOP rivals to denounce the former reality TV star.
Judith Anne McLauchlan is a political science professor at USF St. Pete. She says Trump's outspoken ways seem to be working for the time being.
"He has a very brash and showmanship kind of style," she said. "I think some voters may find that refreshing as opposed to scripted, poll tested candidates. Time will tell whether he becomes a legitimate candidate or whether this has been his 15 minutes of fame."
Even with all controversy, Trump has surged in the polls. The latest one has him second to Jeb Bush.