http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs. ... IOWACAUCUS

Tancredo blasts Giuliani, Brownback
The Associated Press

AMES - Republican presidential hopeful Tom Tancredo criticized two of his GOP rivals on their commitment to combat illegal immigration.

The Colorado congressman was in Ames on Sunday to open a campaign office and seek support for the Aug. 11 straw poll in Ames.

Tancredo said he is running for president because no other candidate has as strong a commitment to illegal immigration as he does.

He said Rudy Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, has tried to make it a ``sanctuary city'' for illegal immigrants.

``He's now happy as a clam with the idea of securing our borders and going after immigration -- it's great,'' Tancredo said. ``It's wonderful. I don't believe a word of it.''

Tancredo said Sam Brownback has blocked immigration reform efforts in 1996.

``He's been an open-border guy for years,'' Tancredo said. '`During a 1996 debate on the issue, he was the primary opponent to most the reform issues. Now he's trying to, quote, modify his approach and say he's always been with us.''

A telephone message to Brownback's campaign was not immediately returned.

Jarrod Agen, a Giuliani campaign spokesman, said Giuliani has long worked to get illegal immigrants removed from the country and called Tancredo's comments ``inaccurate.''

``Mayor Giuliani has made it clear that he is against amnesty and that one of his full commitments is to end illegal immigration in the United States,'' Agen said.

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