Immigration Questions Continue for McCain

Bennett Roth writes for the Houston Chronicle:

When John McCain opened up a town hall meeting here for questions on Friday, someone immediately asked if he favored pardoning illegal immigrants.

The GOP presidential contender, who has been harshly criticized for backing a comprehensive immigration plan that was rejected by Congress last summer, denied he supported an amnesty. He said he first would secure the country’s borders, then create a temporary workers program for illegal immigrants.

With that answer the audience, comprised of employees of BAE Systems, a military contractor, quickly moved on.

While the hot-button immigration issue had threatened to sink McCain’s campaign six months ago, it still dogs him but no longer appears to be a major liability in the final days before Tuesday’s first-in-the-nation primary here.

Independents and moderate Republicans who supported him in the state’s 2000 primary seem to be returning to the fold, and recent polls suggest the Arizona senator has rebounded and is now tied with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the lead.

A number of voters interviewed said that while they continued to disagree with McCain on immigration, they appreciated his honesty and liked his stance on other issues, particularly foreign policy. Click here for the full story.

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