Thursday, September 15, 2011

Romney Has Western Edge

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has some things going for him out West, two of them pointed out in this RealClearPolitics article. Those are the concentration of Mormon voters and his stance on illegal immigration.

Mormons have substantial presence in Utah, of course, but also in Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, and Wyoming. In a contest between Perry and Romney they will tend to back Romney.

Illegal immigration is an issue of interest in this region, particularly among Republican primary voters. Arizona's tough immigration enforcement law is an example of this interest. Perry has been soft on illegal immigration; it is an topic upon which Romney can possibly develop an advantage.