Both Parties See Immigration as Path to Victory in Arizona
As The Washington Post’s Peter Slevin reported last week, GOP Senate hopeful J.D. Hayworth might be down in the polls, and he might have just a fifth of the
Jul 31, 202071.4K Shares2.1M Views
As The Washington Post’s Peter Slevin reportedlast week, GOP Senate hopeful J.D. Hayworth might be down in the polls, and he might have just a fifth of the campaign funds accumulated by his primary opponent, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). But following enactment of Arizona’s draconian new immigration law, the former congressman increasingly sees his hard line on immigration as the path toward victory in August:
“„“If you enforce the law, people will obey the law,” Hayworth told the Thunder Mountain Republican Women, praising a strict new statutedesigned to curb illegal immigration. In a closely watched campaign increasingly defined by who can take the hardest line, Hayworth is a border hawk who called his book about immigration policy, “Whatever It Takes.”
And the thought of a Hayworth upset has some Democratic strategists drooling — with good reason. An April pollhas Democrat Rodney Glassman, a relatively unknown Tucson city councilman, leading Hayworth by three points in a hypothetical matchup. (By contrast, McCain leads Glassman by 16.)
An internal polling memoout of Glassman’s office is hopeful that the anti-incumbency sentiment that uprooted GOP Sen. Robert Bennett in Utah will also extend to Arizona, noting the baggage Hayworth carries with him after a 12-year run in the House of Representative.
“„Let’s not forget — Hayworth was named one of the most corrupt members of Congress [by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington] … and lost his Congressional seat in 2006 in large part due to his corrupt record and his dealings with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Still, to be taken at all seriously in this election, Glassman better start raising some cash. The $0 he had in his war chestat the end of March isn’t likely to go very far.
Update: Glassman spokesperson Dawn Teo updates her boss’ finances: ”Rodney seeded the campaign with $250,000 [on] …. April 6th, with the goal of matching that with supporters’ contributions during the first month. We exceeded that goal within 3 weeks.”
Paula M. Graham
Reviewer
Latest Articles
Popular Articles