A Race to Watch: Hayworth vs McCain

Immigration will be a significant issue in a number of upcoming political races this year. One of the more interesting ones will be the Republican Senate primary in August, pitting four-term incumbent Sen. John McCain against former Arizona House member J.D. Hayworth. On the issue of how to deal with illegal immigration, the divide between the two candidates could not be more striking.

For decades McCain has endorsed amnesty for illegal aliens. When the first amnesty passed in 1986, granting legal status and the path to citizenship to three million illegal aliens, McCain was among the few Republicans who endorsed it. He also has  opposed steps to crackdown on illegal immigrants, such as Arizona’s Proposition 400. That measure, approved by popular vote in 2004, required people in the state to produce proof of citizenship before receiving public benefits.

In 2006 and 2007, McCain worked closely in the Senate with Democrat Edward Kennedy to pass an amnesty for ten million or more illegal aliens. Both attempts failed due to strong opposition from the public.

When McCain ran for president in 2008, McCain muted some of his pro-amnesty rhetoric, but many observers noted his appointment of Juan Hernandez as his campaign director for Hispanic outreach. Hernandez, who holds dual American and Mexican citizenship, once served in the government of Mexican President Vicente Fox. On one occasion, Hernandez stated that illegal immigration from Mexico helped to increase the influence of the Mexican government in the United States.

J.D. Hayworth strongly opposed the 2006 and 2007 amnesties. He has long maintained that rewarding lawbreaking encourages more of it. Recently he charged the Obama Administration with doing too little to secure the border. Said Hayworth, “It’s unconscionable [that] we spent almost a decade after 9/11 and have failed to protect our border.”

A poll done last November showed Hayworth almost even with McCain. But a subsequent poll, following Sarah Palin’s endorsement of McCain, showed the incumbent senator in the lead. Palin, like McCain, supports amnesty. 

McCain incumbency and fundraising abilities give him a considerable edge in the campaign, but a number of commentators believe that Hayworth’s stand on illegal immigration can make him an effective contender.