E.J. Dionne's op-ed in today's Post argues that immigration is likely to play to Democrats' advantage in the presidential election; voters who want a compassionate, practical solution to the immigration crisis will turn out to vote against the Republicans' harsh rhetoric on the subject. But the opposite may be true in the congressional elections, as Republicans in districts with few Latinos rally anti-immigration voters. It's no big surprise; it's easiest to scare up anti-immigrant sentiment in places where people don't have to encounter actual immigrants. But it makes for an interesting split for Dems as a party, and the politics will be "bumpy," as Dionne puts it.
This should be further evidence that the Democratic candidate for president needs to be clear about his/her plans, since down-ticket Democrats in these critical districts are likely to have a tougher time doing so.
--Kate Sheppard
