With 20/20 hindsight, a campaign manager for the Romney campaign acknowledged “regrets” about the campaign’s decision to outflank other Republican presidential candidates by pushing a more rigid, tough immigration stance. As the New York Times reports, it appears the campaign manager does not think it was even necessary.
Perhaps the campaign didn’t think their immigration positions would hurt them too much in the general election. Or maybe the campaign thought they could walk back from their stance, and present a more compassionate immigration stance during the general election. Whatever they thought, it was wrong. In the immediate aftermath of the election, almost all have acknowledged that newly minted citizens will play a major part in upcoming elections.
For the 2016 Presidential (and 2014 Congressional) elections, lets see what the Republican party will do to improve its political position on immigration. Will they repeat their mistake and have the same regret after those elections?