BACHMANN GROUP ATTACKS PERRY ON IMMIGRATION

September 12, 2011

Bachmann Group Attacks Perry on Immigration



A group supporting Rep. Michele Bachmann‘s presidential bid will run a radio ad this week that attacks Texas Gov. Rick Perry for being too moderate on immigration.

“Rick Perry signed a law to make taxpayers pay college tuition for illegal immigrants,” the ad says. “Michele Bachmann opposes giving government benefits to illegal immigrants.”

The ad can be heard here.

It’s another signal that Mr. Perry’s surge in public opinion polls has forced his rivals to look for weak spots in his resume. Some conservatives say Mr. Perry has been insufficiently tough on illegal immigrants.

Keep Conservatives United, a pro-Bachmann political action committee, produced the one-minute spot. The size of the ad buy is unknown, and the group says the ad will start running Tuesday in Charleston and Columbia, S.C.

The ad refers to legislation that Mr. Perry signed in 2001, giving in-state tuition rates and financial aid to some students who are in the country illegally.

Mr. Perry has a complicated profile on illegal immigration. He has said Texas doesn’t need an Arizona-style law that, in his words, would turn state law enforcement officials into “federal immigration officers” by requiring them to ask certain people about their immigration status.

But he also said law enforcement should have the discretion to question whether a person is in the country illegally. That’s one reason, he has said, that he worked to ban “sanctuary cities’” that give illegal immigrants certain protections.

Much of Mr. Perry’s support comes from the some of the most ideological Republicans, who the congresswoman also aims to woo.

“Illegals take jobs,” the ad says. “The difference is clear. To stop illegal immigration, support Michele Bachmann.”

So-called Super PACs like the one supporting Ms. Bachmann can raise and spend unlimited sums on politics, so long as they don’t coordinate with a candidate’s campaign.