Republican candidates and national leaders have worked hard for years to attract more Hispanic voters. Those efforts now are being hurt by a businessman who seems to be the party's most popular presidential hopeful at this early stage. Donald Trump has made nasty comments about Mexicans, has harsh proposals for immigration reform and last week had a televised conflict with Jorge Ramos, a popular and influential news anchor at Univision, a Hispanic TV network.

Ramos, who has been openly critical of Trump, tried to ask about his immigration policies at an Iowa campaign stop. Trump, who had not called on Ramos during a media event, told him curtly: "Go back to Univision." Ramos was ushered out of the room, but allowed to return later to ask his question. The next day, Trump described Ramos as "absolutely out of line."

Spanish-language news outlets in America, which have grown in size and political influence, are showing distaste for Trump's language and tactics. "This is personal, and that's the big difference between Spanish-language and mainstream media," Ramos says. "He's talking about our parents, our friends, our kids and our babies. . . . He has to explain how he wants to deport 11 million people. . . . We have to denounce that he wants to deny citizenship to children being born here. They're citizens just like his. And it is impossible to build a 1,900-mile wall between Mexico and the United States, so that's the kind of questions that I was asking Mr. Trump."

USA Today columnist Raul Reyes predicts an impact beyond Trump. He predicts "endless headaches for the GOP as the party tries to move beyond the summer of Trump." Hispanics are the largest U.S. minority, with roughly 54 million people making up 17 percent of the population. Voting-age Hispanics make up 11% of the country’s electorate, though low turnout meant that they made up about 8 percent of total voters last year.

Donald Trump says: "I'm not a bully. In fact, I think it's just the opposite way." – "Today" show, Aug. 26

Jorge Ramos tweets: "I'm a reporter. My job is to ask questions."

Columnist writes: "Even for him, Trump’s disrespect for Ramos was shocking." – Raul Reyes, USA Today