However, here is an example of a "seal-the-borders" guy not doing very well, despite the views here on FR that illegals is THE issue.
(And I sympathize, I'm a seal-the-borders guy: but I don't see it translating yet into election results.)
Yep. I'm actually surprised at how little effect it has. You could make plenty of excuses for Gilchrist, and often seal-the-borders candidates have a high goofball quotient. But even among reasonable candidates, the issue just isn't animating voters.
As I kept repeating for years: immigration won't be a serious election issue unless economy goes south. A I mean really bad economy, worse than 2002. Perhaps even worse than 1991.