Wilda Diaz knows something about going up against a tough opponent in a tough town. Against the odds, she beat incumbent Mayor Joe Vas in 2008 and served as mayor of Perth Amboy for ten years.

A proud Puerto Rican from a big family with a son serving in the United States Army, Diaz hears the hatred spewing from Donald Trump, and she doesn’t lose her sense of patriotism or optimism for the country.

“The United States is what it is today because of all of us, all different colors, all different languages, who built up our nation and it is ours not to be discouraged – to go out and cast our votes with courage,” the former mayor told InsiderNJ. “I have granddaughters. and I want them to know that they can grow up to be whatever they want to be – that we live in a nation of opportunity.”

Diaz backs Vice President Kamala Harris for President.

“I see a woman who wants to serve,” said the Perth Amboy diehard. “I believe she wants to serve our nation. She wants to shatter a glass ceiling and open it up for other women. I believe her candidacy opens the eyes of many young people, and her strength through this campaign shows women – and shows young people – that nothing comes easy. She worked her way up there from the ground level. It’s inspiring.”

At Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally last night, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” In his own remarks, Trump derided Harris as a “trainwreck.”

With eight days to go before Election Day, Diaz said she wants to remind Latinos who may be wavering or may have entertained support for Trump, and women, of the hateful rhetoric emanating from the Republican nominee for President. “Some of the statements being made are an eye opener,” she said. “Although it’s discouraging that some people still believe in that nonsense, I believe in the common good and I believe that there are a lot of us who don’t believe that nonsense. Kamala Harris is bringing out the facts. We need kindness. We need to take all of this seriously. Are our kids going to be protected? Are they going to be living in a fair America or an America without opportunities?”