Thread: Joe Arpaio will chair Perry's Arizona campaign

January 6, 2012

By Rebecca Kaplan

AUSTIN, Texas - In a move to reassure conservatives who think he's soft on illegal immigration, Gov. Rick Perry announced Friday that controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio will chair his campaign in Arizona.

Although admired by conservatives for his get-tough approach to controlling illegal immigration in his Southern Arizona county, Arpaio is facing allegations by the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division on a wide range of issues, including claims of practicing a pattern of racial profiling and discrimination and carrying out heavy-handed immigration patrols based on racially charged citizen complaints.

Arpaio endorsed Perry in the Republican primary before the federal investigation surfaced, and he campaigned for Perry in both Iowa and New Hampshire.

Since the Justice Department probe came to light, Perry has defended Arpaio, telling Fox News in December that "these people are out after Sheriff Joe." The sheriff's support is meant in part to bolster Perry's record as tough on immigration. He has taken heat from conservatives for a Texas law he signed granting in-state college tuition to the children of illegal immigrants.

Also on Friday, Perry filed the required documents to get on GOP primary ballots in Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, Vermont and Washington, D.C.

"As my campaign for president moves forward, our superior organization and resources allow me to compete nationwide, where I'm confident our unmatched jobs record, conservative fiscal and social policies, and status as the only Washington outsider can win over Republican voters," Perry said in a statement.

Perry's campaign suffered a setback when he failed to submit the required number of signatures on to get on ballot for the Virginia primary. Perry has sued the state to get his name added.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_1...zona-campaign/

I support Sheriff Joe Arpaio, but I feel he is making a big mistake backing Perry. Not only is Rick Perry synonymous with the Dream Act in-state tuition for illegal aliens bill he signed into law, but Perry's campaign has been destroyed for being on the wrong side of the illegal immigration issue.

Not only has Sheriff Arpaio made a terrible choice, but by backing any GOP Presidential Primary candidate he is going to fragment his conservative support base by doing this. Sheriff Arpaio is going to need every vote he can get to win his reelection.

Perhaps there is some hidden strategic factor I'm just not aware of, but from where I stand this support for Rick Perry is a big political mistake.

W

Sheriff Joe Arpaio you making a big mistake backing Perry..

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

I support Sheriff Joe Arpaio, but I feel he is making a big mistake backing Perry. Not only is Rick Perry synonymous with the Dream Act in-state tuition for illegal aliens bill he signed into law, but Perry's campaign has been destroyed for being on the wrong side of the illegal immigration issue.

Not only has Sheriff Arpaio made a terrible choice, but by backing any GOP Presidential Primary candidate he is going to fragment his conservative support base by doing this. Sheriff Arpaio is going to need every vote he can get to win his reelection.

Perhaps there is some hidden strategic factor I'm just not aware of, but from where I stand this support for Rick Perry is a big political mistake.

W

Agree with everything you said here. I am still shocked Joe is on the Perry Ponderosa.