Thread: Immigration - The Utah House Battle Issue

Associated Press
Immigration the Utah House Battle Issue
By BROCK VERGAKIS , 06.26.2006, 02:25



The path to re-election would seem smooth for a Republican who backs President Bush in the GOP state of Utah.

It would be if it weren't for immigration, an issue that has led to battles within the Republican ranks and has threatened lawmakers including five-term Rep. Chris Cannon.

On Tuesday, Cannon faces real estate developer John Jacob in Utah's GOP primary, a race that hinges in part on who stands taller in opposition to Bush's call for a path to citizenship for some 11 million illegal immigrants.

Cannon voted last December for a House bill that would toughen border security, criminalize people who help the undocumented and make being in the country illegally a felony. But he also supports Bush's proposal for a guest-worker program and says "there's massive room for negotiation."

Cannon's views have partly been shaped by his days as a Mormon missionary in Guatemala. "America has the responsibility to bring freedom to people around the world," he once told the Salt Lake Tribune.

His willingness to compromise has made him a prime target of Team America, a conservative group that calls illegal immigration the most critical problem facing the nation. It is spending $40,000 on radio ads criticizing him.

"If we can defeat Chris Cannon on the issue of illegal immigration, it will send shock waves in the House of Representatives," said Bay Buchanan, chairwoman of Team America and sister of former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan.

Cannon defends his stand on the issue.

"We need a system where people aren't hiding, but they come and go," he said in a debate last week.

Jacob favors returning illegal immigrants to their home countries before giving them a shot at U.S. citizenship and punishing businesses for hiring them.

"The idea has been pushed that it's OK to break the law," Jacob said.

At the state Republican convention last month, Jacob captured 52 percent of the delegate votes while Cannon got 48 percent. Sixty percent was needed to avoid Tuesday's primary vote.

The winner will face Democrat Christian Burridge in November in a district the Democrats have little chance of winning. Bush carried it with 77 percent of the vote in 2004.

The 3rd Congressional District bordering Nevada includes Provo and Brigham Young University. Hispanics comprise about 10 percent of the population, blacks less than 1 percent.

Immigration is an issue for a "vocal minority that is quite passionate about this issue and this single issue," said Kelly Patterson, director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young.

That could work to Cannon's advantage, depending on turnout.

"As you go out to the broader electorate, he has the opportunity to explain himself to his constituents because he's an incumbent and they cut him slack," Patterson said.

Cannon won the seat in 1996, in part by arguing that the Democratic incumbent, Rep. Bill Orton, was soft on immigration. In 2004, Cannon's actions on the issue prompted conservatives to back Matt Throckmorton, who managed 42 percent in his GOP primary loss.

"Is John Jacob the right guy? I don't know. The jury's still out as far as I'm concerned," said Jan Newman, 46, a computer software developer from Elk Ridge. Newman voted for Cannon in 2004 but worries about immigrants taking jobs from legal residents.

In other states' primary runoffs Tuesday:

_ In Mississippi, State Rep. Erik Fleming faces Bill Bowlin, a business consultant, for the Democratic Senate nomination and a longshot bid to unseat Republican Trent Lott. In a House race, political consultant Ken Hurt takes on attorney Bill Bambach. Either Democrat will have a tough time ousting Rep. Roger Wicker.

_ In South Carolina, Republican Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer tries to fend off challenger Mike Campbell, the son of former Gov. Carroll Campbell. Campbell led in the first primary voting, 45 percent to 37 percent. The winner Tuesday will face Democrat Robert Barber in November.

Originally Posted by steelerbabe

Immigration is an issue for a "vocal minority. . .

Minority?!? I don't know what planet she's on, but this is an issue for the majority of Americans !

Humm............well tommorow is the big day. lets hope jacobs wins!