This month Ann Coulter, the conservative columnist and author of “Demonic: How the Liberal Mob Is Endangering America,” said Texas Gov. Rick Perry would not live up to expectations, and predicted that the Republican base would be clamoring for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to run in 2012. Two weeks later, Coulter is sticking to her guns.
Although Perry has since rocketed up in the polls, on Thursday night’s “Hannity” on the Fox News Channel, Coulter offered one of example of why Perry won’t live up to these expectations: His stance on illegal immigration.
HANNITY: Who do you like for president now? Do you like Perry? I’m about to leave. Do you like Perry?
COULTER: He needs a little work on amnesty, but I think there’s a corpulent governor in New Jersey who would really fit the bill right now.
HANNITY: Oh my gosh – you are obsessed with [Chris] Christie.
COULTER: I’m right.
HANNITY: Alright – is he going to run?
COULTER: Yes as soon as people hear more about Perry’s views on amnesty. If amnesty goes – I mean, he’s just a little bit too much like George Bush
HANNITY: What is Christie’s views on immigration?
COULTER: He’s a governor of New Jersey. He hasn’t come out for amnesty.
Media reports have surfaced over the past few days documenting Perry’s stance on immigration, one that many say could cause him problems during the 2012 election cycle. Christie, by the way, did offer his thoughts on illegal immigration back in 2010.
According to a July 1, 2010 Politico report, Christie expressed his opposition to strict state-by-state immigration statutes like the one implemented in Arizona at the time. “Without border security, enforcement of existing laws and a ‘clear’ path to legalization for immigrants,” Christie explained, there would never be a solution.