The major Democratic presidential candidates jockeyed for Latino support at the National Council of La Raza's annual conference.

With Latinos growing as a percentage of the electorate and the issue of illegal immigration heating up, this voting bloc is a top priority. Hillary Clinton won Hispanics in a losing effort in 2008, but Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley plan to compete with her in 2016.

Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley all talked up plans for comprehensive immigration reform, increased economic equality and disdain for their Republican opponents, especially Donald Trump.

"It was appalling to hear Donald Trump describe immigrants as drug dealers, rapists and criminals," Clinton said. "It's shameful and no one should stand for it. So I have just one word for Mr. Trump, ¡Basta! Enough! And to all the other Republicans running for president, why did it take weeks for you to speak out? You're usually such a talkative bunch."

Sanders echoed Clinton's sentiments condemning Trump saying, "no one — not Donald Trump, not anyone else — will be successful if dividing us based on race or our country of origin." Sanders played up his role as the son of a Polish immigrants, stating that in America "we say 'no' to all forms of racism and bigotry."

O'Malley didn't shy away from bashing Trump, saying "if Donald Trump wants to run on a platform of demonizing immigrants, then he should go back to the 1840s and run for the nomination of the Know-Nothing Party."

The former Maryland governor has placed immigration reform at the front of his political agenda for years, often telling the story of his Irish immigrant heritage and the sign he keeps on his desk reading, "No Irish need apply." O'Malley referred to immigrants as "New Americans."

O'Malley touted his accomplishments as governor, including making Maryland the first state to pass a "living wage," freezing college tuition two years, raising the minimum wage raise to $10.10 an hour and keeping the state's unemployment among Hispanics down to one of the lowest in the nation.

"Anyone can talk about it, but we actually did it," O'Malley added, taking a shot at Clinton, who has spoken a great deal about immigration reform.

Clinton's speech was very similar to her Monday morning economic policy address in New York, except tailored to a new audience.

The former secretary of state told the crowds that Latina make 56 cents on the dollar compared to white men and that 49 percent of married Latina mothers bring home half of their families' income.

Clinton again attacked Jeb Bush's comments about the need for Americans' work longer hours, this time using the example of "the farm workers breaking their backs picking fruit in Southern California" and "the dish washers working their hands raw in the kitchens in Las Vegas" in her appeal to the Latino community.

Sanders has called for comprehensive immigration reform too, adding, "Let us be frank, today's undocumented workers play an extraordinarily important role in our economy, without these folks it is likely that our agricultural system would collapse."