Arizona Ruling a Quagmire for Romney, GOP

With Republicans and Mitt Romney struggling to get Hispanic votes, yesterday's Supreme Court ruling mostly striking down Arizona's tough immigration law has just muddied an already difficult dilemma, reports the Washington Post. Getting tough on illegal immigration fires up the GOP base, but Romney needs upward of 40% of the Hispanic vote to have a good shot at swing states like Colorado, Nevada, and Virginia—nationally, he trails Obama among Hispanics 66% to 25%.

“I’m hoping this decision, which included Justice Roberts, will send a message to conservatives that we cannot allow a few states that don’t represent the majority of Republicans and a few political leaders to define the conservative narrative on immigration,” said one Hispanic conservative. Romney had earlier touted the Arizona law as a national model, but following the ruling, he sounded more moderate, saying "it's become a muddle." “I do not believe that the Arizona law is a model,” said Sen. Marco Rubio. “I don’t want it in Florida, nor do I believe it is necessary in other states.” (More the Hispanic vote stories.)