Minnesota Public Radio looks at Minnesota Republicans' new focus on immigration as a means to fire up its base:
The candidates say they're highlighting the differences between themselves and their Democratic opponents. But the results of a recent poll suggest Republicans are also trying to motivate their core supporters. . . .
The poll is from the Pew Center:
The most recent poll, released from the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, says illegal immigration is also one of the top issues among rank and file Republicans and is tied for the top issue among conservative Republicans.
Pew has been polling voters in the 40 most competitive congressional districts in the nation, including Minnesota's 6th Congressional District. Pew pollster Carroll Doherty says GOP candidates nationwide are running ads on immigration to stir the passions of their core supporters.
"At this stage in the campaign, that's what the candidates and the campaigns are doing," Doherty said. "They're focusing all of their efforts on getting out their own supports. And it's clear that there's a great deal of intensity on this issue in the Republican base."
Doherty says Pew's polling finds that most people want to see a comprehensive immigration policy, not just a policy that focuses on border security and illegal immigration -- two key themes for Republicans.
That has given Democrats ammunition to return fire on the immigration issue. Mike Hatch started running an ad criticizing Pawlenty on illegal immigration just hours after Pawlenty's ad hit the airwaves. Democrat Tim Walz, who's running against Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht in the 1st Congressional District, also started running an ad criticizing Gutknecht for his record on immigration. Even though he's spending money on the issue, Walz says immigration is not the most important concern among Democrats and independents.
"The war in Iraq is the core issue," Walz said. "The mismanagement of government is the core issue. Health care is a core issue. Immigration is one that needs to be dealt with but that group of people, my group that I'm resonating with, knows that this is nothing more than election year posturing by my opponent.
Democratic strategists have also encouraged their candidates to remind Republicans that the alleged explosion on illegal immigration has occurred on the GOP's watch. Groups representing immigrants in Minnesota say they're disappointed that both parties are placing so much emphasis on the immigration issue.
KARE-11: BIG HITTERS CAMPAIGNING FOR GUTKNECHT AND WALZ
KARE-11 spreads the news of the dogfight in the district:
More signs that Minnesota's First District congressional race is among the hottest in the nation.
Some big names are coming in next week during the final week before the November 7 elections.
Incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht's campaign has announced that Arizona Senator John McCain - who's already scheduled to come to Minnesota next Wednesday in support of Governor Pawlenty's campaign - has added stops for Gutknecht in Mankato and Rochester.
Democratic challenger Tim Walz, meanwhile, has a rally scheduled Monday in Rochester with Illinois Senator Barack Obama, who's also stumping for DFL Senate candidate Amy Klobuchar.
On Wednesday, Walz's campaign is bringing in Senator John Kerry - the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee - for a rally at Minnesota State University in Mankato.
LAVENDER: CRAMMING FOR THE MID-TERM
Lavender reviews candidates' stand on GLBT issues; here's its take on Walz:
In the First District Congressional race, Democrat Tim Walz has taken an all-out political beating from the GOP, based almost entirely on his record of standing up for the GLBT community. Recent polls show him in a dead heat with his opponent, incumbent Representative Gil Gutknecht, a Republican who is decidedly against same-sex marriage.
Given the recent GOP attacks misrepresenting Walz's positions on taxes and immigration, guess this earlier obsession didn't get much traction.
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