By JAMES HOHMANN
Politico – April 20, 2012
TEMPE, Ariz. — Here in Arizona as the presumptive Republican nominee on Friday, Mitt Romney dropped his tough-as-nails immigration rhetoric from the primary season.
Campaigning in this Phoenix suburb, Romney listened instead.
At a “Hispanic Roundtable” organized by the campaign, Romney solicited advice from nine Arizonans about such things as the economy and immigration. And instead of espousing hard-line immigration policies that were red meat to the conservative base during the primary, he asked the audience for suggestions.
The former Massachusetts governor smiled and nodded for 33 minutes, never articulating his own ideas even as some praised his call for more “legal immigration” in a state that passed the harshest crackdown on illegal immigration in the country (which Romney essentially endorsed). Others pressed him to pursue comprehensive immigration reform.
“I must admit this is the best part of my day — to meet with folks that are experiencing various parts of our economy, various parts of our social fabric — and I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions,” he said. “I’ve received a couple of written suggestions from you. I’ll take a look at those as well. Hopefully I’m able to provide policies that you’ll find to be enlightening or at least instructive.”
Romney faced serious criticism — including from some in his own party — during the primary that he had moved so far right on immigration that he had all but ruined GOP chances of luring Hispanic voters in the general election. By speaking to Hispanic groups and toning down his rhetoric — or at least avoiding the harshest buzzwords on the topic — Romney may already be seeking to moderate his image on the subject and make up lost ground.
At a rally after the roundtable, Romney did not once mention or refer to immigration. Protesters standing outside the event in nearly 100-degree temperatures, meanwhile, held a long banner signed by hundreds of activists demanding passage of the DREAM Act — which would allow a path to U.S. citizenship for children of illegal immigrants and those in the military — which Romney opposes and has threatened to veto.
The Obama campaign thinks Romney’s immigration stance will galvanize the fast-growing Hispanic population in this traditionally red state, putting it in play this November.
“We think we have a real shot at winning the presidential race here in Arizona,” Vice President Joe Biden said at a Phoenix fundraiser Thursday.
How Romney handles any possible evolution on immigration could determine whether Biden is right.
It will be a tall order for Obama, who lost to Arizona native John McCain by nine points here in 2008.
Local and national Republicans express confidence they will hold the Grand Canyon State. After signing the controversial state immigration law, Republican Gov. Jan Brewer won reelection by 12 points in 2010. Romney is also popular with Republicans here: he won the state’s primary in February with 47 percent of the vote, beating Rick Santorum by 20 points.
As the Romney campaign blasted out an infographic highlighting economic hardships Hispanics now face, the president’s staff released a statement accusing Romney on being “on the wrong side of every Hispanic voter priority.”
Inside the Arizona Historical Society Museum, Romney stayed above the fray.
Tony Rivero, a city councilman from Peoria (population: 154,065), kicked off the roundtable by telling Romney that he needs to look at the border and think more about what to do with people already in the country illegally. He praised Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a potential contender to be Romney’s running-mate, for proposing a plan that would create a path to legal status for children of illegal immigrants – something Romney has opposed.
“Sen. Rubio has offered some ideas, and I think it’s a good start,” Rivero said. “But I think we have to look at the issue and solve it completely.”
“Any suggestions that you have in that regard?” Romney asked.
“Yes, and I’ve put it together,” he said.
Romney quickly changed the subject, asking about the city’s schools and taxes.
“Thank you,” Romney said. “I appreciate you.”
Manuel Pacheco, the former president of the University of Arizona and the interim president of New Mexico State University, told Romney that the DREAM Act was a good idea but “that concept is toxic at this particular point.”
“I’ve been encouraged by some of the possibilities that might be introduced,” he said. “I’m not suggesting that any one approach be adopted, but I think that it would be good from your perspective as a candidate for the presidency if there were a way that you could provide at least some signal for a glimmer of hope for some of these students who are obviously worried about this.”
“I would urge you to make that nod at some point in the near future that would give them the kind of hope that will encourage them to both stay in school and be successful,” he added.
“Appreciate it,” Romney said, not engaging on his point. “Thank you.”
Alice Lara, who works for a consulting firm, told Romney that she is very active in the Arizona Latino Republican Association.
“I’m so glad we’re all here because we tell people we actually do exist,” she said. “We’re conservative. We’re Latino. And we are Republicans!”