The Wall Street Journal-20080215-Play Right

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Despite what the open-borders advocacy groups would like to believe, Hispanic voters don't cast their votes solely, or even primarily, on the basis of the immigration issue ("McCain's Latin Dance," Politics & Economics, Feb. 9). The good news is that if John McCain follows the example of George Bush's 2004 campaign, when Bush got 40% of Hispanic votes, he can do well among Hispanic voters. But note: The Bush campaign didn't use immigration reform as a key issue in appealing to Hispanic voters. The record shows that the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign used traditional conservative Republican themes that resonate among the Hispanic middle class: economic empowerment, family values and safeguarding our country against terrorism.

Sen. McCain's presidential campaign effectively persuaded enough Republican voters that he got the message on amnesty and border security. He made an explicit promise at the Conservative Political Action Conference meeting that, if elected, he will postpone other aspects of immigration reform until "after we [have] achieved widespread consensus that our borders are secure." In the real world, such a "widespread consensus" must include conservatives. After the experience with the 1986 amnesty program, any attempt at tokenism will fail.

If the McCain campaign makes the mistake of thinking McCain can "move left" on border security and immigration reform after winning the Republican nomination, they will make an obvious strategic blunder. That course would mean losing support among his Republican base while gaining very little among the Hispanic voters most inclined to vote Republican. If Sen. McCain is elected as a "maverick who keeps his promises," the promise to first secure our borders is one he cannot afford to break.

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R., Colo.)

Littleton, Colo.