Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN)
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Likely Nay
Rep. Ellsworth has taken a tough stance on immigration. His issues page reveals his negative attitude towards any "amnesty" programs aimed at legalizing undocumented immigrants. Here are some excerpts:
"I oppose granting amnesty to people who have broken the law by entering our country illegally. Instead, we must stop the flow of illegal immigration, secure our borders, and enforce the laws already on the books."
...
"We cannot ignore the nearly 12 million immigrants currently living in the United States illegally. Illegal immigration undercuts the American middle class, places unsustainable burdens on our social service programs, and poses a significant risk to our national security. We must provide law enforcement with the tools to enforce our immigration laws, improve our identification systems to better track legal immigrants who overstay their welcome, and send a message that we will not reward breaking American laws with amnesty."
Rep. Ellsworth is also running for Senator Bayh's seat. However, his desire for the Senate seat will not likely moderate his conservative leanings, as you might expect from a Senate candidate who needs a broader appeal. Save northwestern Indiana, the state is a bastion of conservatism. Democrats enjoyed the "Obama effect" in 2008, which turned Indiana blue. Don't expect that this time around. Look for Ellsworth to go continue to go hard on immigration if he wins the primary.
Nevertheless, he may be prime for a targeted campaign. However likely it is that Ellsworth would hold steadfast to his social conservative principles, in a Senate race, he will need support from the more liberal 1st district, which has an emerging Latino population.
