Associated Press - Santorum Steps Up Tough Talk Against Illegal Immigration
Associated Press - Santorum Steps Up Tough Talk Against Illegal Immigration
By KIMBERLY HEFLING
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - In the final weeks of the campaign, Sen. Rick Santorum is returning to a familiar theme: his get-tough message on illegal immigration, also a topic of his first TV ad in June.
In a fresh batch of TV ads and on recent campaign stops in Grove City in the west and Hazelton in the east, Santorum has sought to highlight how he and Democrat Bob Casey disagree over how to deal with all the illegal immigrants in this country.
The two are competing in one of the nation's most competitive Senate races.
Santorum has opposed a measure backed by President Bush that could allow a majority of illegal immigrants already here to eventually become legal permanent residents, by paying fines, fees and back taxes and learning English. Casey said he would support it.
Santorum has attacked the plan as amnesty for illegal immigrants. Casey has said it does not constitute amnesty.
Santorum's message has the potential to rally conservative voters, particularly those in the southwest worried about the loss of manufacturing jobs and in the east in towns that have seen an increase in recent years in the number of foreign-born residents.
But he also risks alienating some voters sympathetic to the plight of illegal immigrants. Others concerned about the Iraq war and economy might not see the issue as relevant.
Santorum, who has trailed his opponent for months in polls, said he's talking about immigration because, he said, it is one of the issues uppermost on voters' minds as he travels the state. He's promoting a plan that, in part, encourages the creation of an employer verification program and a temporary worker program where someone already illegally in the United States would have to leave the country first before getting permission to participate.
"We feel very strong that we have a message that is not anti-immigrant or anti-Hispanic, it is pro-security," Santorum, the No. 3 Senate Republican, said in an interview last week. "It is pro the integrity of our country and our borders to make sure that people who come into this country come here for the right reason and the right purpose and that is to become integrated into society."
Casey said Santorum does not have a voting record that backs up his message. The Democrat also said his position has been distorted by Santorum.
Casey said the Senate measure backed by moderate Republican senators Arlen Specter and John McCain is not perfect, but is better than nothing.
A new ad by Santorum running statewide repeatedly quotes Casey saying "I would vote yes" on the legislation and attacks the plan as an insult to taxpaying Americans.
Visitors to a new Web site showing the ad can click to order bumper stickers and yard signs that say Casey is "for amnesty" and "13 million illegal aliens are counting on him."
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-10152006-727326.html