[ZULU]

That very weakness will be an asset with the Hispanic vote. Besides, without Congressional support, there isn;t much damage he COULD do. And once in office, he will be more susceptible to pressure from other parts of the Country. In Texas, the Hispanic vote is VERY important.

[milagro]

And Perry knows that while it seems to be "gospel" to the MSM and many political pundits, supporting amnesty would NOT automatically garner the Hispanic vote. There are just too MANY Hispanic U.S. citizens who deeply resent and oppose the idea of handing out the privileges of citizenship to those who think they can go around the laws to get them.

But Perry is also well aware that strident anti-illegal immigration rhetoric will also be resented--and opposed--by many Hispanic voters, because ethnicity can be seen as the focus, instead of illegality. And THAT is why he has to be slow and deliberate when he takes aim at the issue of illegal immigration, and not end up shooting himself in the foot during his "race to the White House".