Immigration invades 2008 election

In a conference call, America’s Voice, a campaign for building public support and political power to advance immigration reform, announced a new project to track the impact of immigration issues in the 2008 elections. Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, announced a new website, Immigration08.com, which will track ads, coverage, and commentary on immigration until the election. Recently the two nominees, Senators Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), spoke at several Latino events, so the campaign took this opportunity to announce its new site.

Celinda Lake, President of Lake Research Partners, said that the program is proposing an election-day exit poll to discern what role immigration issues played in mobilizing voters. Pete Brodnitz, the Principal of Benenson Strategy Group, advised solving immigration problems, rather than antagonizing immigrants. Simon Rosenberg, President of the New Democrat Network, said that there is no way that the Republicans can win the Presidency without a significant showing in the southwestern states and Florida, making immigration a vital issue in the upcoming election. He added that McCain (R-AZ) has shown cowardice rather than courage on immigration issues.

Sharry said that McCain understands the immigration issue but revoked his support of immigration reform in fear of a right-wing revolt. But now, he said, McCain is associated with the Bush immigration policy that represses immigrants in self-deportation. America’s Voice endorses full immigration reform with the opportunity to gain citizenship.(49:48)
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