Mitt Romney Remains Quiet On Adviser Kris Kobach's Tough Immigration Law In Alabama

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/13/mitt-romney-quiet-on-alabama-immigration-law_n_1342535.html

First Posted: 03/13/2012 4:55 pm Updated: 03/14/2012 7:37 am

As the GOP candidates gear up for Tuesday's primary in Alabama, the home of the nation's toughest immigration law, Mitt Romney remains comparatively quiet on the state's form of "self-deportation" which he promoted aggressively just months prior. Some say his fear of alienating Latino voters in the general election is informing his new silence in the primary.

While Alabama’s primary alone won’t make Romney the nominee, Tuesday could determine if the candidate can “sidestep” a “dominant, singular rival”, as The New York Times reports. In the past week, Romney’s taken to the campaign trail, sticking to the talking points regarding jobs, the economy, and why he’s the man that can beat Obama.

Although Romney has quieted down on immigration after a much criticized "self-deportation" comment in a January debate, Alabama voters might expect him to pipe up again on the headline-grabbing immigration law written by one of his own advisers.

Kris Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State and adviser to Romney on immigration policy, wrote and helped pass Alabama's controversial law HB 56. The law, which aims to drive undocumented immigrants from the state, requires that police officers inquire about the legal status of anyone they suspect of being undocumented during any routine traffic stop. Although Romney had publicly endorsed the law, and called a similar law in Arizona a "model" for the nation, he hasn't stuck his neck out on the issue in Alabama.