News coverage in April 2010 of SB 1070 in political campaigns began with a report on April 1, Pueblo Politics: Giffords, GOP spar over immigration, in the Arizona Daily Star about Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) calling a town hall meeting in Douglas, Ariz. near where rancher Robert Krentz was killed on March 27. The Pima County Republican Party accused Giffords of using Krentz’s death for political gain. The following day, the Star ran a report, Maricopa’s Thomas running for state AG, about the Maricopa County attorney, famous for his hard-line stance on immigration, leaving his post in order to run for Arizona Attorney General.
On April 11, the Star ran Sen. John McCain Interview: Immigration, in which the editorial board asked Sen. McCain about immigration and border security.
On April 19, the Star ran Selected quotes from debate on SB 1070, which listed opinions of Arizona lawmakers on SB 1070. The same day, the Star ran a report by Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services, Goddard: AZ immigration bill is questionable, about Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard’s opposition to SB 1070. Goddard was running for Arizona governor at the time. The Star also ran Border Boletín: McCain, Kyl call for troops, in which Sen. McCain, who was running for re-election, called for increased border security.
Two days later, on April 21, the Star ran Pueblo Politics: McCain on intentional car wrecks, about comments Sen. McCain made regarding illegal immigrants intentionally causing car wrecks. The same day, the Star ran Poll finds AZ voters like new immigration measure, about popular support for SB 1070. The next day, the Star ran Most callers to Gov. Brewer favor SB1070 veto, which indicated that although poll results suggest that most Arizonans favor SB 1070, the governor was receiving feedback from opponents of the law. On April 22, the Star ran Pueblo Politics: Giffords says no to boycott, about Rep. Giffords refusing to join the boycott of Arizona.
On April 23, the Arizona Republic ran Reactions to Gov. Brewer’s decision to sign SB1070, which quoted Arizona lawmakers’ opinions of SB 1070.
On April 24, the Star ran Hundreds turn out to hear GOP candidates for governor, about SB 1070 being addressed at a debate for Republican candidates for governor. That same day, the Star ran Threats lead Grijalva to close Tucson, Yuma offices, about threatening phone calls to Rep. Raul Grijalva’s (D-AZ) offices.
On April 25, the Star ran 400 protest at rally; voices of support at McCain forum, about opponents of SB 1070 at a rally for the Grijalva campaign and supporters of the law at a forum for the McCain campaign.
On April 27, the Republic ran Palin: Attacks on AZ. law are politically motivated, about former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s comment that President Obama’s criticism of SB 1070 was meant to support Democratic political candidates.
On April 28, the Star ran Pueblo Politics: The intersection of immigration and Prop. 100, which showed a possible political repercussion of SB 1070. The report indicated that opponents of SB 1070 might vote against a proposition that would enact a temporary sales tax. The sales tax was the brainchild of Gov. Brewer, who signed SB 1070 into law five days earlier.
An opinion piece in the Republic on April 28, Grijalva worried about rights threat, supported Rep. Grijalva’s call for a national boycott of conventions in Arizona.
On April 29, the Republic ran Arizona immigration law boosts Gov. Brewer’s rating, which showed the political gains made by Gov. Brewer as a result of signing SB 1070 into law.
On April 30, the Star ran Pueblo Politics: Giffords on 1070, about Rep. Giffords saying that the law was “extreme,” but was the fault of the federal government for not securing the border.
News coverage in April 2010 of SB 1070 in political campaigns concluded with a report in the Republic, first published by Politico, GOP worries Arizona immigration law could hurt party, about the popularity of the law with the Republican base and its unpopularity with potential Hispanic Republican voters.
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