DEBATE: Finally, Immigration

Thu, January 10, 2008 - 10:16 PM

The moderators said they’d save the hottest issues for last just before the break, and by that they mean immigration.

McCain gets the first crack, saying he would secure the borders first, and that he’s better positioned to understand the issue because he comes from Arizona, a border state. As to illegal immigrants in this country now, anyone who committed a crime must be deported.

Romney’s up next. He points out, rightly, that McCain did not say what he would do with the rest of the people in this country illegally. Romney says they have to go, though he does not say how he’d round up the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants for deportation.

Huckabee and Paul both get questions – political strategy questions, essentially – about the impact the GOP stance on illegal immigrants could have on Hispanic support in the general election. A disappointment, I have to say. Voters here have made clear that they want to hear about this issue, and the specifics of the candidates’ positions.

It’s over. And I’m off to the spin room. Good night, folks.

--Sean Mussenden