A Run to the Right — and Out the Door

Walker’s Turn on Immigration Was Self-Destructive

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s turn from a constructive position on immigration coincided with the beginning of a drop in support that ended when Walker suspended his campaign Monday.

Walker had supported the opportunity for immigrants lacking documentation to earn legal status and citizenship — until campaign dynamics persuaded him to abandon that position. The change, and his later flip-flopping on birthright citizenship, undermined his campaign.

Walker withdrew following news that support for the onetime polling leader had dropped to less than 0.5 percent in a new poll.

“Governor Walker’s loss shows that a race to the bottom on immigration is a race out the door,” said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum Action Fund. “In reality, anti-immigrant voters are a small sliver of the conservative base.

“Far more GOP voters are looking for the constructive tone that has begun to emerge in recent days. Leadership means engaging in a dignified conversation about immigrants’ contributions to our country.”