Ignoring reversal, O'Donnell said McCain “believes he's stronger among Hispanic-Americans, especially because of his immigration stance”

Written by Ryan Chiachiere

Published

NBC's Kelly O'Donnell asserted that Sen. John McCain “believes he's stronger” than Sen. Barack Obama "among Hispanic-Americans, especially because of his immigration stance, which nearly killed him in the Republican Party." But O'Donnell did not note that McCain reversed himself on the issue of immigration; he now says that “we've got to secure the borders first” and that he “would not” support his own comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

On the June 8 edition of NBC's Meet the Press, NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Kelly O'Donnell asserted that Sen. John McCain “believes he's stronger” than Sen. Barack Obama “among Hispanic-Americans, especially because of his immigration stance, which nearly killed him in the Republican Party.” But O'Donnell did not note that McCain reversed himself on the issue of border security, saying that “we've got to secure the borders first” -- a position at odds with his prior assertion that border security could not be disaggregated from other aspects of comprehensive immigration reform without being rendered ineffective. Indeed, McCain said in January that he "would not" support the comprehensive immigration reform legislation he co-sponsored with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA).

Numerous media outlets have similarly suggested that McCain's immigration position would be beneficial to his electoral prospects with Latinos without noting his reversal on the issue.

Additionally, O'Donnell claimed that New Mexico was “narrowly won by Republicans in the last two contests.” Though she did not specify which “contests” she was referring to, former Vice President Al Gore carried New Mexico in the 2000 presidential election. O'Donnell's claim is incorrect even if it includes nonpresidential “contests”: In the 2006 midterm elections, Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D) defeated Republican candidate Allen McCulloch in the New Mexico Senate race, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) was re-elected.

From the June 8 edition of NBC's Meet the Press:

TIM RUSSERT (host): Kelly, what is the McCain campaign thinking when they look at that Electoral College map?

O'DONNELL: Well, the word that comes to mind, as they say, it's doable. They know the history they're running against, with the barrier-breaking candidacy of Obama. They know about the enthusiasm gap where he fills arenas, 20,000 people at times, even more. But they say if you look at the nitty-gritty of the map, they see opportunity. New Hampshire is where his candidacy was resurrected. He spends a lot of time there. We will be going back there following him even this week. So, he sees that as potential.

New Mexico, narrowly won by Republicans in the last two contests, a neighboring state for him. He believes he's stronger among Hispanic-Americans, especially because of his immigration stance, which nearly killed him in the Republican Party. So, they think it's possible.

And even though they know there's going to be a big bump for Obama, they think in the state contest, if you drill down -- they've been studying this -- he is within a few points. And they think there is potential there. That's why they're on the air with advertising in a number of those states and they think they have enough money to stay on the air to try to avoid Obama being able to define McCain early, which has sometimes, you know, spelled disaster for candidates who were behind at the beginning.