Schneider: A yes vote for ‘amnesty’ was a freightening prospect for 2008 senators

06/28/2007

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senators running for re-election next year kept their distance from the immigration reform bill. They voted 23 to 9 against it. Which means only 28 percent voted yes. Among all senators, the vote was 53 to 46 against the bill, or 46 percent yes. (Read how your senators voted)

O.K., but most senators running for re-election next year are Republicans. And Republican senators overall voted three to one against the immigration bill (37 no, 12 yes). But Republicans senators running for re-election voted six to one against it (18 no, 3 yes).

Among all Democratic senators, the vote was better than two to one in favor of the bill (33 yes, 15 no). But Democratic senators running for re-election were closely split – 6 voted yes, five no.

Conclusion: voting yes for “amnesty,” as opponents of the bill dubbed it, and then having to face the voters next year was a frightening prospect for many senators.