Arpaio stumps for Romney in Iowa
Dan Nowicki
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 28, 2007 12:00 AM

DES MOINES, Iowa - Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio stumped for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Thursday in this crucial presidential state, burnishing his own national anti-illegal-immigration credentials while subtly sticking it to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

Arpaio, who has long feuded with McCain, is Romney's honorary Arizona chairman and was invited to Iowa by the campaign, which paid for the trip. Next Thursday, Iowa will hold Republican and Democratic caucuses that mark the official start of the races for the 2008 party nominations.

"He's a great guy and going to be the next president," Arpaio said of Romney, now locked in an increasingly bitter battle with McCain in New Hampshire, which hosts the nation's first primary five days after the Iowa caucuses. "He's a great organizer, great businessman. Has a great team. Believes in my philosophy that you can't know everything, so he surrounds himself with good people. That's what he did in Massachusetts."

While in Iowa, Arpaio dropped by a gathering of anti-illegal-immigration radio talk-show hosts from around the country at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown. The Federation for American Immigration Reform sponsored the two-day radio event.

Arpaio, who sported a Romney campaign sticker, said he explained on the air how Arizona combats illegal immigration.

Arpaio insisted he didn't come to Iowa to talk about McCain but said to send the senator his regards. "McCain's a good guy, but you know what? Mitt Romney is a better guy," Arpaio said. "And that's my comment."

Campaigning in Cedar Falls later, McCain declined to comment on Arpaio's visit to Iowa, other than to jokingly say, "I hope he enjoys the weather." Des Moines is covered in snow.

McCain and Arpaio have a history of adversity. In the 2000 presidential race, Arpaio endorsed then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush over McCain. In 2004, McCain backed a Republican primary challenger to Arpaio.
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