Border skirmishes in Arizona election

Heading into the Aug. 24, 2010, Arizona primary — with immigration the hot topic in Arizona and elsewhere — incumbent Sen. John McCain and his challenger for the Republican nomination J.D. Hayworth are both running ads talking about border security.

In an ad that begins with a narrator saying that “McCain lies … again,” Hayworth’s campaign accuses McCain as opposing the border fence. The vote in question was on an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007. McCain and other Republicans voted no on that specific amendment but voted yes on final passage of the bill, which provided $1.2 billion for strengthening the border. He was also cited by the New York Times as one of the “Republican architects” of The Secure Fence Act of 2006 signed into law by then-President George W. Bush three weeks after he signed the appropriations act. We rated Hayworth’s claim False.

McCain ignored his primary opponent in his own campaign ad, instead focusing on President Barack Obama. McCain said he called for 3,000 troops for Arizona’s border with Mexico, while Obama said he would send 524. True, McCain has called for 3,000 troops and also true that 524 is Arizona’s share of 1,200 National Guard troops sent to the Southwest border by Obama. But Obama also asked Congress to pass emergency legislation to add 1,000 new border patrol agents — a number which has subsequently been increased to 1,500 in a bill that is still pending. We rated McCain’s statement Half True.