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Palin’s views on immigration remain a mystery |
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By Jim Snyder
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Posted: 09/03/08 07:18 PM [ET] |
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As Republicans and Democrats race to write Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R) political biography, one issue remains a mystery: her views on immigration reform. Democratic opposition researchers were searching databases Wednesday in hopes of uncovering a position that could hurt Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) efforts to cut into Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) lead among Hispanic voters, who make up 10 percent of the electorate and a higher percentage in a few key swing states in the West.
But Palin’s record on immigration, as recorded by Nexis and Google, is practically nonexistent, and everyone from bloggers to members of Palin’s own party seemed unsure of her views.
“She’s never made any statements. I don’t recall really any positions that she’s taken,” said Mara Kimmel, a political science professor at the University of Alaska at Anchorage who specializes in immigration issues.
Kimmel, whose husband is the Democratic candidate for Alaska’s lone seat in the House, said immigration hasn’t been a dominant issue in the state, even though she suspects there were proportionally as many undocumented workers in Alaska as in other states.
Even when the issue has surfaced in Alaska, Kimmel couldn’t recall Palin weighing in on it.
A spokesman for McCain’s campaign did not respond to a request to describe Palin’s views on immigration.
Arturo Vargas, the executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, said there are more Hispanic voters in swing states like Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada than there were votes separating President Bush and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) last election.
The association held a press conference on Wednesday to discuss issues important to Hispanic voters. Vargas said the same issues that motivate the public at large also motivate Hispanics: the economy, healthcare, the war in Iraq. But as a voting bloc, Hispanics are also sensitive to where candidates stand on the issue of undocumented workers and immigration reform.
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