Given the state of the Republican Party in California, short of
Ronald Reagan stepping from crypt and endorsing a candidate, no
political figure carries much weight among conservatives out there,
particularly in Southern California. While Wilson may still have
fundraising ties - large donors we've spoken to in Orange County
aligned with Romney, McCain and Thompson say his influence has
greatly diminshed- it's an odd endorsement for Giuliani to have
pursued, particularly given how hard Rudy opposed Proposition 187,
which Wilson actively endorsed and campaigned for.
But Wilson actually throughout his career as a Senator was more
ideologically in tune with Giuliani. As a Senator, he opposed INS
raids on workers "out of status," siding with the agriculture lobby
he was beholden to in the state. He also fought numerous
deportation filings against "out of status" workers during his
Senate days.
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