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Controversial Arizona sheriff attends NH GOP luncheon
Sep 12, 2010 5:17pm

(NECN: Kenneth Craig) - Arizona's top law enforcement official, who is controversial in his state for his tough stance on illegal immigration, is weighing in on national races.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio was at a GOP luncheon in New Hampshire today, fueling rumors he'll seek the party's 2012 presidential nomination.

Inside the Nashua's Crown Plaza Hotel was a packed luncheon of area republicans gearing up for Tuesday's primary.

But outside, there were several dozen protesters outraged over the day's guest speaker.

At the center of it all is Joe Arpaio of Maricopa county in Arizona. America's so-called "toughest sheriff" was in Nashua to speak before the city republican committee.

In recent months, the sheriff has gained nationwide attention for his law enforcement tactics and illegal immigration crackdown in Arizona.

"We go into businesses, lock up people that are there illegally, making vacancies for U.S. citizens," he says.

Arpaio is both vilified and and applauded, and since Arizona's passage of their controversial immigration law, he's taken his stance across the country.

Meanwhile, his timing and visit to the key primary state has some political observers wondering whether Arpaio has his eyes on the White House.

"In politics, you never say never, so who knows," he says.

Meanwhile, the sheriff is in the middle of fighting a justice department lawsuit for his alleged refusal to cooperate with a federal civil rights investigation.

Arpaio tells us he plans to fight that, too.

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