Des Moines, Iowa Tom Tancredo endorsed Mitt Romney at a press conference at the Mariott Hotel in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, today. Tancredo said that he met with Romney this morning and that he is convinced the former Massachusetts governor is committed to securing the borders and ending sanctuary cities. The conventional wisdom is that endorsements don’t mean much, but I think this one might be helpful for Romney. A recent AP-Pew Research poll found that illegal immigration was the most important issue for 18 percent of Iowa Republicans. Based on my discussions with Republicans here, that seems low. Virtually every voter I’ve spoken to over the last couple of days has raised the issue without prompting, and each time they say they’re looking for someone tough on immigration. It’s true that Tancredo has been consistently polling at only one or two percent here. But in a tight race, those caucusgoers will matter if they move in a block. More important, Tancredo’s endorsement could have the effect of easing the concerns some voters have about Romney on immigration. In laying out the case for Romney, Tancredo said that his new candidate will do three things to stem the tide of illegal immigrants. “First, he will secure our borders. Second, he will prosecute employers who create the magnet that draws several million illegal aliens into the country. Third, he will require those who are presently here illegally to return home.” He gave Romney cover on an issue that has nagged him on the campaign thus far. “He is also, I think, committed to the idea that sanctuary cities should be stopped and penalized and dealt with importantly.” Tancredo hinted in his opening remarks that the timing of his endorsement was meant to slow the rise of Mike Huckabee and confirmed this later in response to a question. “It was important in making a decision,” he said. “You bet your life it was.”
