Last week, on NPR’s "Morning Edition," Republican presidential candidate John McCain suggested that strong anti-immigrant rhetoric contributed to two recent, high-profile GOP Congressional losses – of former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, who badly lost to Sen. Bob Casey in 2006, and Jim Boerweis, who lost the heavily Republican seat of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert last month in a special election.  "I know that there have been some races, like here in Pennsylvania , where Senator Santorum emphasized that issue [immigration] and lost by a large number," McCain said.  With regards to Hastert, McCain added, "the Republican candidate out there, I am told, had a very strong anti-immigrant rhetoric also, so I would hope that many of our Republican candidates would understand the political practicalities of this issue."

McCain campaigned heavily for Oberweis last month, helping the campaign raise about $300,000.  Oberweis will be on the ballot again in November, running against Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill).  During the campaign, Oberweis proposed his own plan to crack down on undocumented immigration, including airing television ads arguing that politicians in Washington "can’t seem to fix" the issue.  

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US News & World Report has compiled a list of quotes and key voting records of the three remaining presidential candidates, helping understand where they stand on immigration.

Border Fencing

Barack Obama – "The key is to consult with local communities when creating any kind of barrier."  Obama voted for the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which authorized a fence on the Mexican border but has since de-emphasized his support.

Hillary Clinton – "Let’s deploy more technology and personnel, instead of the physical barrier."  Clinton also voted for the fence, but has softened her support by criticizing the fence’s execution

John McCain – "Borders are borders, and there should be agreements between the landowners and the federal government."  McCain voted for the fence and has encouraged agreements to allow the government to enter private property to survey land.

Guest-Worker Program

Obama – "Illegal immigration is bad for illegal immigrants and bad for the workers against whom they compete."  Obama supports a guest-worker program with a database of workers, arguing it will improve wages and conditions for all workers.

Clinton – "It is easier sometimes to employ people who are immigrants and … really take advantage of them."  Despite voting for the failed McCain-Kennedy bill, Clinton says she opposes a guest-worker program because it could depress US wages.

McCain – "We need workers in this country.  There are certain jobs that Americans are simply not willing to do."  McCain cosponsored the failed Senate bill that proposed a guest-worker program with a registry and a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants.

Legalization/Amnesty

Obama – "Give the 12 million people who are here illegally, many of whom have US citizens for children, a pathway to legalization."  Obama supports allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for legal residency if they pay a penalty and don’t have a criminal record.

Clinton – "[Deporting all undocumented immigrants] is absolutely unrealistic, and it is not in keeping with American values."  Clinton supports giving undocumented immigrants a path to legal residency, similar to Obama’s position.

McCain – "Make them earn citizenship because they have broken our laws."  As a principal author of last year’s failed immigration bill, which would have given undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship, McCain has struggled to convince conservatives that his plan is not amnesty.