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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 18, 2006 GOP candidates pin hopes on immigration By Julie Hirschfeld Davis The Baltimore Sun KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. — Thomas Trautman is just a few doors down from the Mexican ice-cream shop on State Street, within view of the sign in Spanish advertising lawyers for hire, when he begins to vent his frustration about illegal immigration. "You can't make laws for only some people to obey, and right now, we've got people right here in this town that can not only break the law, but then they can collect benefits and get special privileges," says Trautman, 64, gesturing sullenly at the cozy main drag, less than a mile from the mushroom farms that have drawn thousands of Mexican immigrants to this corner of southeastern Pennsylvania for work. His anger about undocumented immigrants is one reason that Trautman, a Republican and retired trucker who says he's fed up with both parties, is pretty sure he'll vote for Sen. Rick Santorum in one of this year's most closely watched Senate contests. Santorum, a conservative three-term Republican who is considered among his party's most vulnerable incumbents this year, is counting on such voters to give his campaign a much-needed jolt in the dwindling days before the midterm balloting. Lagging behind his Democratic opponent, Bob Casey Jr., the state treasurer and son of Pennsylvania's popular former governor, Santorum has seized on illegal immigration as a key issue in his fight for survival, touting his hard-line stance as a top reason he deserves re-election. In states and towns like this one, far from the nation's borders, Republicans are flogging the hot-button issue of immigration as they troll for votes, stirring a potent election-year stew of fears about security and anxiety about jobs and the economy. Party strategists say a hard-line immigration stance appeals to their base and may have the potential to attract crossover voters, particularly middle-class white conservatives who are upset at the notion that illegal immigrants might enjoy taxpayer-funded government benefits. There's little sign, however, that most voters are listening. People are torn on the complicated issue. Many say it's low on their list of concerns this election year, behind war and economic worries. Public polls show no more than about one-fifth of voters name it as a top concern. G. Terry Madonna, a Pennsylvania political scientist and pollster, said immigration falls near the bottom of voters' priority lists, but "more Pennsylvanians are on Santorum's side on this than they are on the other positions, so if he can make it more important, he may benefit from it." Other Republicans are trying a similar strategy. In Minnesota, Senate candidate Mark Kennedy has run TV and radio ads accusing opponent Amy Klobuchar of supporting Social Security benefits for immigrants. Reps. Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania and Chris Chocola of Indiana have touted their opposition to President Bush's plan to give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship and have called their campaign rivals amnesty backers. In Tennessee, Bob Corker accuses his Senate campaign opponent, Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr., of opposing border-security measures. Republican strategists say the argument allows candidates to do two things: appeal to demoralized conservatives in both parties who favor anti-immigrant crackdowns, and show independence from Bush, whose popularity is sagging. In Santorum's case, the immigration issue has an added benefit: the potential to be a wedge issue among social conservatives who might otherwise consider supporting Casey because he shares the senator's anti-abortion-rights position. Santorum created a Web site called CaseyforAmnesty.com, where visitors can buy bumper stickers and lawn signs bearing that phrase. He had Mayor Lou Barletta of Hazleton, who drew national headlines for enacting an anti-illegal-immigrant ordinance in his northeastern Pennsylvania town, record a phone message to voters touting his immigration stance. Casey denies that he favors amnesty. "It's a big lie," Casey said. But he was concerned enough to cut his own TV spot, faulting Santorum for voting against measures to secure the border and punish employers who hire illegal workers. "Bob Casey opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants," the announcer says. His response reflects the counsel Democratic strategists have been giving candidates across the country: hit back by reminding voters that the explosion in illegal immigration happened on Republicans' watch. "Democrats have to be forceful in saying, 'Hey, you guys are responsible for this problem, and you've done nothing to resolve it,'" pollster Anna Greenberg said. Greenberg's research shows that, while so-called "immigration voters" — those who consider it a top concern — overwhelmingly favor Republicans, voters overall give Democrats an advantage on it. "I'm not convinced from the data that I've seen that it's getting the traction with swing voters that (Republicans) would like it to have," she said. For voters in this small town — the self-proclaimed mushroom capital of the world, where Mexican enclaves dot a conservative white stronghold — the debate over illegal immigration is not some abstract argument over problems better known to folks in Arizona or California. It's as familiar as the popular taqueria in the New Garden Shopping Center or the bilingual letters children bring home from school (English on one side; Spanish on the other). Researchers estimate that the majority of mushroom pickers here are undocumented, some say perhaps 70 percent. "It is an issue that has to be addressed. They're coming now in such numbers, and they're not learning the language. There just has to be some limitation," said Kate Eik, 73. That doesn't necessarily translate into an easy voting decision. "Some of my neighbors I know are not here legally. They're lovely people. Where do you draw the line? I don't know, and I don't think any of (the candidates) know," said Eik, a Democrat who supported Santorum in the past but is undecided this year. Santorum says the issue resonates deeply with voters, touching on their economic concerns and their security worries — but mostly on their basic sense of justice. "The thing I hear about is, it's just not fair," Santorum said recently between campaign stops in Upper Darby. Voters "just don't think it's fair" for immigrants to "jump ahead of the line, get the benefits of living in America, and do it against the law." Brad Krenicky, 34, of Plymouth Meeting, a Democrat who says he identifies with the party's "workingman's values," may be the kind of voter Santorum has in mind. "I would like to see a crackdown on illegals," said Krenicky, who hasn't supported Santorum in the past but is considering doing so this year. "I have no problem with someone coming to this country and becoming a citizen by the proper channels, but breaking the law and then living off of our tax money, living off of our government support, that's not painting a very bright future for my two boys." Casey rarely raises the immigration issue himself; he omitted mention of it altogether at a recent appearance in a Philadelphia union hall, where his criticisms of Santorum brought cheering steelworkers and service employees to their feet. "It's not immigration that's the issue, it's raising the minimum wage, it's affordable health care, it's Social Security, it's the presence of American jobs," said Paul Hughes, 36, who clapped and nodded his head during Casey's remarks. Santorum is "trying to create an atmosphere of fear to split the work force," said Bill George, director of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. For Santorum, "This is now about doing two things: defining the difference between him and Casey and energizing the base," said Madonna, of Franklin and Marshall College. The strategy carries risks, however. Some voters who consider themselves Republicans say they are turned off by the tone of the immigration debate, which they say has the stench of xenophobia. Bob Longley, 49, of Downingtown, who voted for Bush twice but has turned against Republicans over the war in Iraq, says the party's immigration message has only added to his alienation. "This country has never closed its doors, and I think that's what makes America great — that we're a melting pot," he said. ________ Distributed by the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service Current Comments: where you live you could never imagine the amounts of illegal immigrants in California. Especially in Santa Clara County. A very large percentage of the population is illegal. In fast foods which is in every corner, a very few speak english well enough to answer you when you have questions or complaints or even take an order right. Our children are not abel to get jobs because they have all of them. And the gangs and crime, worse then ever. What has come of our county? Its not right. Gina - San Jose, CA. - October 18th, 2:23 PM they should go back these people come here and cry poor when most of them have there own house in mexico.they take housing from the american people they live with about 20 or so people in one house. they work under the table most of them i feel this is so unfair to the american people.we do not get anything for free they seem to get it all. i feel they should learn to speak english like i learned to speak spanish. believe me some of them do speak english, they just tell you that they don't. BARBARA ( [email protected] ) - coatesville pa - October 23rd, 8:24 AM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.