Immigration Key To November Elections?

Jillian Bandes | July 12, 2010 8:07 AM

It became clear at a meeting of Democratic governors over the weekend that Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is changing more than just the way our nation enforces our immigration laws. She's also changing what the Democrats can focus on this fall when they try and get re-elected. With immigration at the forefront of the national agenda, Dems are having a hard time focusing on how they

believe they're creating jobs — which is the only issue they think can get them re-elected.

That's probably true. Jobs and the economy are more important than just about anything else. But Brewer's bold move has forced them to go on the offensive on the immigration issue, and put their imaginary claims of job creation on the backburner. NYT:

“Universally the governors are saying, ‘We’ve got to talk about jobs,’ ” Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee, a Democrat, said in an interview. “And all of a sudden we have immigration going on.”

He added, “It is such a toxic subject, such an important time for Democrats.”

This strikes me as a genius side effect to Brewer's policies. Not only can she whip our immigration enforcement into shape, but she can distract Democrats from being able to lie about their economic accomplishments.