Immigration Is the Question

Carolyn Hileman* | November 24, 2007

By JUNE KRONHOLZ

The debate over how to deal with illegal immigrants split the Republican Party two years ago, infuriating its social-conservative base and driving away Hispanic voters. It could be even more perilous for Democrats. Democratic strategists believe that Hispanic voters could swing a decisive handful of states — including Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada — to the Democrats in 2008, ensuring the election of a Democratic president and cementing a Democratic majority for years to come. But the party’s blue-collar, middle-income and African-American supporters are increasingly angry about illegal immigration, much of it Hispanic. Democrats “are pretty jumpy on the issue,” says Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat who pushed for immigration overhaul in the House. “They would prefer to allow the Republicans to shepherd the Hispanic votes into the Democratic column without having to scare away a single other voter themselves,” he says.

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