Immigration Law

PRO-IMMIGRATION MARTINEZ STRUGGLES FOR PLACE IN GOP

By Greg Siskind

Mel Martinez is one of the most visible members of a club with an increasingly smaller membership -  pro-immigration Republicans. The Florida Senator is joined by John McCain, Sam Brownback, Arlen Specter and a few others in the Senate, but those ranks could grown even smaller. McCain is expected to have a challenge from popular Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano when he runs for re-election in 2010. Brownback may be retiring as well in 2010. And Arlen Specter could face a tough race in 2010 from MSNBC's Chris Matthews. Even Martinez is expected to face a tough race in 2010.

The Orlando Sentinel reports on his efforts to try and bring his party back to life by making it attractive again to Hispanic voters. But there's no reason to believe Hispanic voters will ever return as long as the Republican Party is viewed as nativist by most Hispanic voters. And that view will only change when the GOP transforms in to a pro-immigration party. There's no indication yet that the GOP's leadership has any intention of changing.

Full post as published by Greg Siskind's Blog on November 15, 2008 (boomark / email).