Thread: Immigration returns to Ariz. airwaves

By ALEXANDER BURNS |
4/9/12 6:44 PM EDT

The Arizona immigration furor is back.

Not that it ever really went away, but Republican Senate candidate Wil Cardon -- a conservative self-funder running in the GOP primary -- is pumping several hundred thousand dollars into ads apparently hyping up a hard-line position on the issue. His buy totals $263,000 between April 10 and 16, according to a source monitoring the air war. (The breakdown is about $208,000 in Phoenix and about $56,000 in Tucson.)

From the latest Cardon ad online (video viewable here): “Will Cardon’s immigration plan will fight Obama’s war against Arizona’s security and economy: Supporting S.B. 1070. National guard troops to secure the border. No taxpayer-funded in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants. No amnesty for illegal immigrations.”

That's also known as "the immigration platform Democrats hope Republicans will run on," and it's probably hepful for state and national Dems for Cardon to stay on the air and drive his party and its likely Senate nominee -- Rep. Jeff Flake -- to as divisive a position as possible in a state where Latino voters could play a big role in House and Senate contests, and the presidential race.

UPDATE: Cardon spokeswoman Katie Martin says the ad will run at a strength of $268,375 to start and says in an email it's aimed at drawing a contrast with Flake's more moderate record on immigration issues.

Immigration returns to Ariz. airwaves - POLITICO.com