Immigration issue could make or break presidential candidates

America’s rugged, porous southern border has come to symbolize a broken immigration system, spawning a political debate especially fraught with perils. Nowhere is that more evident than in the presidential primary races.

The highly charged immigration issues have tripped up veteran politicians such as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who recently appeared to waffle on whether to grant noncitizens driver’s licenses, and Sen. John McCain, who’s backed away from a long legislative history advocating a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million to 15 million people who’ve slipped over the border or overstayed their visas.

Pundits dub the immigration issue “a minefield,” “a new third rail,” as well as a “megaissue” because of its complexity and the strong emotions it evokes. Even the language used – “undocumented worker” versus “illegal immigrant” – has become a potentially volatile touchstone.”*

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