This time, Romney not afraid to take on McCain

In his most self-assured news conference in Arizona to date, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney focused many of his remarks Wednesday evening at the state’s presumptive favorite son, fellow Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

Then, after speaking to a bank of reporters in the lobby of the stylish Villa Siena wedding reception center in Gilbert, Romney walked inside to a banquet hall to greet about 250 campaign contributors who paid $500 to $2,300 each to attend a campaign fundraiser in his honor.

The former Massachusetts governor clearly was much more confident than he was during two previous encounters with the media in Arizona. Then, he seemed almost apologetic to campaign on McCain’s home turf.

Not this time.

Romney declared McCain’s stance on immigration reform a “mistake” and predicted he would defeat the senator from Arizona in the race for the Republican nomination.

Romney undoubtedly drew part of his confidence from his ability to raise money in McCain’s state. Romney’s state campaign director Jason Rose said the event in Gilbert raised $175,000, which pushed the candidate’s total take from Arizona comfortably over $1 million.

Romney’s state financial co-chairman Paul Gilbert suggested the final tally could be significantly more. The campaign’s second-quarter fundraising period ends June 30.

Romney criticized the Senate’s immigration reform bill, which McCain and fellow Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, among others, helped write.

“Sen. McCain’s approach in this case is a mistake,” Romney said. “Instead, the American people want to make sure that we first secure the border, and secondly, we have an employer verification system so we know who’s here legally and who’s not.”

Provisions in the Senate bill, in fact, aim to secure the border and create an employer verification system.

Romney didn’t specify what he faults in these provisions, but he criticized other aspects of the bill. “With regards to those who are here illegally, many people like myself feel that it’s fine for them to apply for permanent residency or citizenship, but they should get in line with everyone else and they should be given no special privilege by virtue of coming here illegally,” he said.

The Senate bill provides a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants living in this country, and would place their applications behind those who applied through the current system.

He didn’t specify what he meant by “special privilege,” but said the Senate bill would be improved if its proposed “Z” visas, which would allow illegal immigrants to remain in the United States permanently, were temporary visas instead. He also didn’t offer a plan for dealing with the immigrants after the temporary visas expired.

In addition, Romney noted he has leap-frogged former front-runner McCain in various polls in early primary states.

“He’s a terrific senator and an American hero and I’m sure he has plenty of energy to drive this campaign forward. My expectation is that I’ll be seeing him in a number of debates, but when it’s all said and done, I’ll win the prize,” he said.

Romney’s appearance was the first of three high-profile presidential campaign events in the Valley during a six-day period. The others are Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former President Bill Clinton.

Richardson is to appear at 11 a.m. Monday at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers hall, Local 5818, in Phoenix. The appearance is closed to the public, but free to invited union members. For information, call (602) 631-4488.

Clinton is set as the keynote speaker at a Democratic fundraiser Monday at 6:30 p.m. at The Phoenician Resort, 6000 E. Camelback Road, in Phoenix. Tickets are $200 each for the public and $125 each for registered Democratic precinct committee members. Call (602) 298-4200 for information.