Ames Straw Poll winner Mitt Romney is not as clear as some would like when it comes to immigration. He speaks out against illegal immigration, which is not surprising. Yet at the same time he is very clear in stating the he would like to see more legal immigration at the very same time. Wagging tongues are wondering if it really matter that a person is legal or illegal – when it comes to not being able to employ them there is precious little difference in the draw on the social services net. Obviously this is too simplistic an approach and those who would like to see more decisive actions are not so quick to showcase their plans.
Yet polling numbers indicate that in states hit hardest by illegal immigration, namely Arizona, California, and Texas, his numbers are not as good as they should be. In Arizona his support dropped from 10% in January to 7% in July, while USA Election Polls reports that in California his support is going through the roof with 3% in January while in August he received 18%. Texans on the other hand are slow to be impressed, and while in January he started out with 6%, he only came in with 8% in April, which is a 5% drop from the March figures.
Immigration – legal, illegal, or otherwise – is a sore spot for voters and while Tom Tancredo has made this his one issue campaign, Romney's statement that he will not be seeking to arrest the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants or any part thereof does not sit well with voters. Granted, this rhetoric may help him with the Latino voting block, but will it bring him the conservative republican votes?
> View the online archive of the latest 2008 presidential polls.
