Thread: Immigration isn't setback for McCain

Immigration isn't setback for McCain
Polls show he's rebounding after his earlier stance on volatile issue


By BENNETT ROTH
Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau


NASHUA, N.H. — When John McCain opened up a town hall meeting here for questions on Friday, someone immediately asked if he favored pardoning illegal immigrants.

The GOP presidential contender, who has been harshly criticized for backing a comprehensive immigration plan that was rejected by Congress last summer, denied he supported an amnesty. He said he first would secure the country's borders, then create a temporary workers program for illegal immigrants.

With that answer the audience, comprised of employees of BAE Systems, a military contractor, quickly moved on.

While the hot-button immigration issue had threatened to sink McCain's campaign six months ago, it still dogs him but no longer appears to be a major liability in the final days before Tuesday's first-in-the-nation primary here.

Independents and moderate Republicans who supported him in the state's 2000 primary seem to be returning to the fold, and recent polls suggest the Arizona senator has rebounded and is now tied with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the lead.

A number of voters interviewed said that while they continued to disagree with McCain on immigration, they appreciated his honesty and liked his stance on other issues, particularly foreign policy.

The immigration issue also failed to hurt Mike Huckabee, who won the GOP caucuses in Iowa Thursday despite being attacked for backing college scholarships to illegal immigrants while Arkansas' governor.

McCain adviser Charlie Black said the candidate has mollified voters by stressing that he first wants to control the United States' borders before moving onto more controversial elements of the comprehensive immigration plan he co-sponsored last spring with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

"He tells them he got the message," said Black.

Other GOP contenders, including Ron Paul, the Lake Jackson congressman, are attempting to make illegal immigration the overriding issue in Tuesday's primary.

The comprehensive immigration proposal, which was backed by President Bush, would have included a temporary guest worker program and a path to residency and eventual citizenship for illegal immigrants. But as it was being debated on the Senate floor, conservatives and some Democrats blocked provision after provision, finally forcing Congress to abandon the legislation.

At the time McCain, who had been considered the front-runner for the GOP nomination, found himself on the defensive, responding to his opponents' attacks. He has since admitted that the immigration issue along with extravagant spending and anemic fund-raising severely hurt his campaign.

John Balcom, the employee who asked McCain if he favors amnesty, said he was satisfied with the senator's answer. "I wanted him to clarify it because there is a lot of confusion," said Balcom, 58, who has narrowed his choice down to McCain or Romney.

Romney has continued to attack McCain for supporting an immigration plan that the former governor contends would have amounted to an amnesty for many of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in this country.

Kevin Madden, Romney's spokesman, said immigration policy remains a major point of contention between the two GOP front-runners in New Hampshire.

bennett.roth@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/pol ... 30034.html





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