Tuesday, November 20, 2007 - 7:51 PM MST
Phoenix voters say immigration issues are their top concern
The Business Journal of Phoenix - by Mike Sunnucks Phoenix Business Journal
Illegal immigration is the top concern of Phoenix-area voters, according to a new poll by Arizona State University and KAET-TV Channel 8.

Twenty-seven percent of the Maricopa County voters surveyed in the November poll said illegal immigration was the region's biggest problem -- ahead of health care, air quality, traffic, schools and the economy.

County voters said border security and enforcing existing immigration laws are the best way to deal with the problem.

The survey also showed Arizona Sen. John McCain leading among county voters in the 2008 presidential field with 32 percent. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani came in second with 22 percent. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney posted 14 percent.

A separate poll from the Behavior Research Center in Phoenix gives Giuliani 20 percent over McCain's 18 percent among Arizona Republicans. The Rocky Mountain Poll gives McCain 29 percent of the vote versus only 6 percent for Giuliani among independents. Some of those independents could reregister with either party to vote in the 2008 primary on Feb. 5.

On the Democratic side, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton leads Illinois Sen. Barack Obama 41 percent to 23 percent in the ASU/KAET county poll.

Clinton leads Obama 44 percent to 11 percent among Democrats in the BRC/Rocky Mountain Poll of Republicans and 35 percent to 22 percent among independents.

The BRC poll interviewed 800 Arizona adults between Nov. 12 and 15. The ASU poll queried 697 Maricopa County voters.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stor ... ily24.html