When a speaker at Donald Trumps wild Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday compared Puerto Rico to a floating island of garbage it sparked outrage.
But wall-to-wall media coverage of the incident involving comedian Tony Hinchcliffe appears not to have changed many minds when it comes to voting.
Just 0.7 percent of the electorate have a more negative view of Trump following the incident, which happened during a five-hour MAGA marathon in the heart of Manhattan.
The lack of impact on voters was revealed in an exhaustive final poll before Election Day by DailyMail.com and J.L. Partners, for which 1,003 people were surveyed.
Poll reveals only 0.7 percent of voters citing events at Madison Square Garden for why they have a more negative view of Trump
More than 50 million Americans have already cast their ballots, but some are still making up their minds, and others are still considering whether to vote at all.
Amid the final fever pitch of campaigning every rally and speech by Trump and Kamala Harris is being more closely scrutinized.
For the candidates it is a high wire act and one verbal stumble, or unexpected development, could upend their chances.
The poll found that the events at Madison Square Garden were the second most noticed news story of the week, behind Israels attack on Iran.
Hurricanes, food recalls, a scandal involving Diddy, the World Series and Elon Musk were the other stories on voters radars.
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump departs following a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA, 27 October 2024
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe speaks during a campaign rally for former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 27, 2024
However, most Americans are focused on broader issues than Hinchcliffes joke as they head to the ballot box, the poll showed.
When respondents were asked why they have a negative view of Trump, the most popular response was his general personal character with 12 percent.
Concerns about the 78-year-olds mental state followed in second with four percent while his self-interest and corruption came in third.
James Johnson, co-founder of J.L. Partners, told DailyMail.com: Despite the news coverage of the comments at the Madison Square Garden rally, voters are responding with a shrug.
Most people are talking about other broader issues related to Trump and Harris, whether its attacks theyve heard in ads, whether its the economy, whether its the bigger issues.
What this says to me is that this moment has not changed the race. This is not definitively playing the role of an October surprise, and its not shifting overall views of Donald Trump or his campaign.
He added: That said, our poll cant pick up what impact this might have on specifically Puerto Ricans in, for example, Philadelphia, but certainly, on a macro level, this is no game changer.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump appear at a political rally for Former US President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York
Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk raises his hands as he takes the stage during a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, at Madison Square Garden on October 27, 2024 in New York City
There are around 500,000 Puerto Ricans living in Pennsylvania, the state that could ultimately decide who takes the keys to the White House.
The winner between Trump and Harris could be decided by just a few thousand Keystone State residents.
Since Sunday, Harris and her Democratic allies have latched onto the comments.
Trump meanwhile used a campaign rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to endorse Puerto Rican Republican politician Zoraida Buxo.
Hulk Hogan appears at the Madison Square Garden rally
An NYPD officer stands in front of an image of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump outside Madison Square Garden on the day of Trumps rally
On Tuesday night, Trump said he had never heard of Hinchcliffe, the comedian who made the offensive comments at the beginning of his rally.
He told Fox News Sean Hannity: I have no idea who he is. Somebody said there was a comedian that joked about Puerto Rico, or something, and I have no idea who it was. I never saw him, never heard of him, and dont want to hear of him.
I have no idea. They put a comedian in, which everybody does...you dont vet them and go crazy.
What theyve done is taken somebody that has nothing to do with the party, nothing to do with us, said something, and theyre trying to make a big deal. But I dont know who it is, I dont even know who put him in. And I cant imagine its a big deal.
Ive done more for Puerto Rico than any other president thats ever been president.
Hinchcliffes controversial routine also