Today's New York Times has an informative primer on Giuliani and Romney's latest fight over immigration. Michael Luo reports:
Mr. Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, has in particular sought to wield the issue against his Republican rivals, focusing on Mr. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, and Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas. He has been broadcasting a television advertisement that declares a hard-line stance against illegal immigration and has sent out a mailing that rebukes the policies of Mr. Giuliani, though not by name. Mr. Giuliani has fought back vigorously, portraying the issue as yet another in a long list, along with abortion, gay rights and gun control, in which Mr. Romney has shifted his position to score political points.
All this reminded me of an excellent Kate O'Beirne piece on immigration from September:
Recent polling by Rasmussen Reports finds broad support for cracking down on illegal immigration. The public thinks a reduction in illegal immigration should be the primary goal of reform, and only 16 percent believe the Senate legislation would achieve that goal. Only 28 percent think that legalizing the status of illegal aliens is very important, and only 12 percent think the federal government is doing enough to reduce illegal immigration. Meanwhile, proposals to cut off federal funds to 'sanctuary cities' - jurisdictions that refuse to enforce immigration laws - enjoy majority support. Three-quarters of Republicans back these measures. Given the overwhelming Republican sentiment so evident on the campaign trail, Romney has been blasting sanctuary policies; for his part, Giuliani pledges to end illegal immigration, and says he would require foreign visitors to carry ID cards. Both favor beefed-up border enforcement. Neither opposed last year's comprehensive immigration reform - but both objected to this year's version.
Seems to me that, policy-wise, Romney is closer to the GOP electorate on immigration than is Giuliani. Politically, however, Giuliani's openness to some sort of eventual regularization of the status of noncriminal illegal aliens makes more sense in general election terms. Thing is, you have to win over the GOP electorate before you have the opportunity to make your case to the general public.