How Obama is winning the immigration debate
A new poll shows that a plurality of Americans backs Obama's handling of the issue
!["We can't allow immigration reform to get bogged down in an endless debate."](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/F6TVyghKE8R6AzWEPXNzj9-415-80.jpg)
Will 2013 be the year that America finally gets comprehensive immigration reform? The GOP, still stinging after Mitt Romney garnered a measly 27 percent of the Latino vote in November, seems almost eager to work with Democrats to pass a bipartisan immigration bill. And the public seems on board, too: New polls show that more Americans approve of President Obama's handling of immigration than disapprove, and that an overwhelming majority back just the sort of measures he's offering.
A new Gallup poll shows wide-ranging support for measures in Obama's plan. For instance, 72 percent of Americans say undocumented workers living in the United States should have a chance to become citizens, and 85 percent agree that employers should be required to verify that all new hires are living in the country legally. And an ABC News/Washington Post poll released this morning finds that 49 percent Americans support Obama's handling of immigration versus 43 percent who disapprove. That's a drastic shift from last July, when only 38 percent approved of the White House's approach.
What's Obamas secret? Politico's Carrie Budoff Brown calls it his "fill-in-the-blank sales pitch," which, apparently, applies to everything from gun control to tax cuts. Obama's nine-step plan to selling his policies to the American public: "Tout what he's already done. Say the public's in his corner. Demand Congress do something. Lament Washington dysfunction. Lay out his own plan. Avoid details. Urge voters to keep up the pressure. Warn it won't be easy. Bask in the applause."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Obama put parts of that plan to action in Las Vegas on Tuesday, telling a group of supporters, "At this moment, it looks like there's a genuine desire to get this done soon … This time, action must follow. We can't allow immigration reform to get bogged down in an endless debate."
Translation: Everyone is on my side, so get moving, Republicans.
Of course, it won't be that easy. As Hot Air's Ed Morrissey points out, even though 42 percent of Republican respondents in the Post's poll favor a path to citizenship for the nation's illegal immigrants — clearly causing GOP lawmakers to rethink their position — "border security has to be a solid win" for Republicans before they approve a normalization process. And that's easier said than done.
Indeed, while the poll results might seem like good news for Obama, liberals shouldn't celebrate yet, says Kevin Drum at Mother Jones.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
[A] good rule of thumb is that on any contentious issue, you'd better start with at least 60 percent support. Two-thirds is even better. Because once the attack ads start running and the radio bloviators start bloviating, those numbers are going to slide downward. If "path to citizenship" is only polling at 55 percent before this stuff starts, it's not likely to stay in majority territory for very long. [Mother Jones]
So yes, the polls make it clear that today, Obama is winning on immigration. But that doesn't mean he's already won.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Keith Wagstaff is a staff writer at TheWeek.com covering politics and current events. He has previously written for such publications as TIME, Details, VICE, and the Village Voice.
-
Paloma recipe: the cocktail of the summer
The Week Recommends This refreshing drink balances the fresh and fizzy taste of grapefruit soda with a subtle flavour of smooth tequila
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Mushroom edibles are tripping up users
the explainer The psychedelics can sometimes have questionable components
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Prisons are simply not prepared for extreme heat
Under the radar Inmates are at severe risk of heat-related illness
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published