Joaquin Castro: Some Trump Voters 'Racist'

PHILADELPHIA — Are some Donald Trump supporters racist? 

"I think some of them, probably," U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro said during an interview Monday at the Democratic National Convention. "I definitely don't think all of them are. There's a lot of fear about the economy."

"When you've got David Duke and white supremacists who are pushing him actively, congratulating him, and pushing his candidacy on Twitter or Facebook and all these social media, then yeah, I think the answer is yes," the San Antonio Democrat told Buzzfeed News.

Asked about the political state of Texas, Castro embraced a common party theory: that Texas isn't so conservative, it's a place where liberals do not turn out to vote. 

"I just don't think that the statewide politicians represent most Texans. They represent most voters," he said. "Every statewide Republican in Texas basically wants to be Ted Cruz. That is their idol." 

Castro also addressed a struggle for Democrats: white rural voters.

"I don't think we should give up as a party on any voting group," he said. "Certainly not any ethnic group or racial group. I think you always have to try and speak to people, and that includes white rural voters." 

But the interview took place amid chaos within the party, both with the abrupt departure of DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and rampant booing on the convention floor among supporters of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

"It's been obviously a rocky start, but ... I think in the long-term Hillary Clinton will win the presidency in November, and I think that this will turn out to be a good week for Democrats." 

"If we can get past this first day, then I think we'll be okay."