Romney Uses Immigration To Challenge Perry, Recruit Rubio

Mitt Romney seems to be using immigration as a way to challenge Rick Perry in the Republican presidential fight. In a speech today at the Republican National Hispanic Assembly in Tampa, Florida Romney basically said that Rick Perry was weak when it came to the issue of immigration. Remember that Perry is the frontrunner right now, replacing Romney who was looking to be the guy before Perry stepped into the race.

Then The Hill reported that one reason Romney is going this route is to be able to recruit U.S. Senator Marco Rubio as his VP. All of this taking place in a climate of significantly reduced immigration. The Wall Street Journal reported:

Mr. Romney said the U.S. “must do a better job of securing its borders, and as president, I will.” Mr. Romney said that includes “completing construction of a high-tech fence.”

Mr. Romney didn’t mention Mr. Perry by name, but the Texas governor has dismissed the idea of a fence along the entire U.S.-Mexico border as “ridiculous,” but has said he supports a fence in some metropolitan areas. Mr. Romney also focused on in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.

“Finally, we must stop providing the incentives that promote illegal immigration.  As governor, I vetoed legislation that would have provided in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants.” Under a bill Mr. Perry signed, Texas provides in-state tuition for illegal immigrants who meet certain criteria.

This is also part of Romney’s plan to recruit Marco Rubio for his vice presidential candidate, at least that’s what The Hill says, noting:

Romney’s prepared remarks are strikingly similar to the message of Rubio, whom Romney has said is on his shortlist for vice president should he win the nomination. Rubio often uses his background as a child of immigrants to discuss American exceptionalism, opportunity and freedom.

So immigration becomes the political football, again, and the reality of whether immigration — which is currently down due to the recession — becomes irrelevant.