Thompson airs immigration ad in Iowa

Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson stresses the need to secure U.S. borders and enforce immigration laws in a new television ad airing in Iowa.

"Giving up by granting amnesty is not the answer," the former Tennessee senator says in a 30-second spot that began airing statewide Wednesday in Iowa.

Illegal immigration has divided Republicans and remains a critical issue to GOP voters. This past summer, Arizona Sen. John McCain supported legislation that would have strengthened border security with provisions that would have provided a means for many illegal immigrants to become citizens. Top rivals Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani opposed the legislation.

The measure, backed by President Bush, failed in the Senate in June.

The Thompson ad takes place at a diner, with the candidate sitting at a counter.

He says amnesty is "unfair to those who have played by the rules and ignores the rule of law."

Last month, Thompson said the government should take away federal dollars from cities and states that don't report illegal immigrants.

Under his immigration proposal, so-called "sanctuary cities" would lose discretionary federal grants, as would colleges and universities that allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition.

The ad buy totals more than $230,000, according to data analyzed by another presidential campaign.

___

On the Net:

http://www.fred08.com/