Posted by
Gary Gross on Friday, September 01, 2006 4:41:39 PM
Rick Santorum has closed the gap on Bob Casey in his race for re-election because he's picked up on the importance of the immigration issue, according to a Washington Times article. "Rick's immigration message is resonating," said John Braybender, Mr. Santorum's media consultant, who has helped the campaign produce two immigration ads in recent months. "People understand that the immigration issue is much more far-reaching than just border states."
This isn't good news for Democrats, especially those who've essentially ignored the enforcement issue while focusing on granting citizenship to those who've illegally gained access to the US. This isn't good news for Bob Casey, who hasn't taken a hard stand on the issue:
Mr. Santorum was the highest-ranking Senate Republican to vote against a bill approved earlier this year that would grant citizenship rights to some 10 million illegal aliens. Mr. Casey has said he would have supported the bill, though he did not like everything in it.
People, Casey's answer has the sounds of a focus-grouped answer that sounds good and means nothing. I suspect that people are figuring out that Casey is running on his dad's name, not on the issues. That might work for awhile in the summer but that won't cut it in the heat of a heated campaign.
"We did a certain amount of internal polling, and when it got to immigration, it was very clear," Mr. Braybender said. "Rick's position versus Casey's was overwhelming." Voters, he said, see the issue as more than just illegal aliens streaming across the border. It's also about giving them Social Security benefits, waiving certain back taxes and other matters of lawfulness and fairness.
This is perfect framing of the immigration issue. It's hard-hitting & concise. There isn't a better way of framing the issue.
Internal polling by the Santorum campaign, as well as by House and Senate campaigns across the country, suggests that the immigration issue will help Republicans in November.
I've suspected that this was a winning issue for Republicans once they got serious about it. That Santorum's campaign isn't the only campaign benefitting from it tells me I'm right.
If Republicans keep talking about border security & thwarting terrorist attacks, expect them to appeal to the overwhelming majority of voters. If they keep touting these issues, they'll gain seats in the House & Senate.