Republican Tancredo opens 2008 White House campaign

[Ron Burgundy]

Reuters - Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo ofColorado, a leading opponent of illegal immigration, said onTuesday he would take the first step toward a longshot 2008presidential bid dedicated to the immigration issue.

Tancredo, 61, formed an exploratory committee to raisemoney for what he termed an "arduous and undeniably uphillbattle" for the presidency that would advance his hard-lineviews on immigration.

"I am considering this campaign because of my commitment toreal immigration reform: reform that first and foremost isdedicated to the security and well-being of the citizens of theUnited States, and to respect for the rule of law in ourbeloved nation," Tancredo said.

Tancredo has been a leading voice in Congress againstproposals for guest worker programs and in favor of strongerborder security to block illegal immigrants from Mexico. Herecently generated controversy by saying Miami resembled "athird world country."

Tancredo, who made his announcement shortly after DemocratBarack Obama (news, bio, voting record) made a more high-profile decision to enter therace, said he did not see any presidential candidate in eitherparty dedicated to a tough stance on immigration.

Tancredo, who visited the early caucus state of Iowa duringthe weekend, is the eighth Republican to announce anexploratory presidential bid. Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) andformer New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani are the leaders, alongwith former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Other Republicans in the race include Kansas Sen. SamBrownback (news, bio, voting record), California Rep. Duncan Hunter (news, bio, voting record), former Virginia Gov.James Gilmore and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson.

None of the White House candidates, he said, "reflects thegrass roots, majority belief of Americans that our borders mustbe secured, that employers who hire illegals must beprosecuted, and that no one who has broken our immigration lawsshould ever be put on a 'pathway to citizenship."'

Tancredo said Republican leaders had abandoned theirconservative principles and paid the price in November, whenthey lost control of Congress to Democrats.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070116/pl_nm/usa_politics_tancredo_dc [link]