South Carolina is fast becoming ground zero in the fight over immigration reform.
A coalition of pro-reform groups on Wednesday launched a major advertising and grassroots campaign in the state to argue for immigration reform — and to commend Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for his efforts on its behalf.
The push comes just weeks after NumbersUSA, a group that vehemently opposes the bipartisan Senate framework for immigration reform, used its first commercials of the election cycle to attack Graham.
The state has taken on a crucial role in the political battle over reform — and not only because of its senior senator.
Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee’s Immigration panel, and will play a central role in shaping any immigration deal in Congress. The state’s culture, demographics and politics also make it one to watch as the issue plays out in a Republican Senate primary.
“South Carolina is important both because Sen. Graham has been part of the group of senators who have been courageously taking this issue on … and you also have of course Trey Gowdy,” said Richard Land, president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
“It’s up to us to convince [Gowdy] that the majority of the members of his district support comprehensive immigration reform, and we believe they do.”
Land is involved with the Evangelical Immigration Table, a group that launched radio ads on Christian radio stations across the state on Wednesday. The group argues, in biblical terms, why Christians should support immigration reform.