This should be easy to prove. Find me a candidate who won with anti-illegal rhetoric? Surely neither Tancredo or Romney. Surely not that US Representative from Arizona who lost in 2006. 1. john McCain lied about his position to "win" averaging like 35%. He didn't win so much as the opposition was split. Moreover the media never called him on his lies.
2. JD Hayworth lost a Democrat who claimed to be even better on illegal immigration than he. No wonder you like Juan McCain. The truth is fluid for you.
Also, all else was not equal. Hayworth was caught both in the Abramoff scandal and in scandal of campaing funds and PAC funds going to his wife.
Want to come up with an honest example?