Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer surges past 50% in new poll after signing illegal immigrant bill [Updated]

(UPDATE: Friday  2:20 p.m.: Another new Rasmussen Reports survey here shows support for the state's illegal immigrant measure has now surged too, up to 71%, highest so far.)

How's that new immigration law working out for Arizona's Republican Gov. Jan Brewer?  Well, her numbers have risen for the last month. And now just look at the new Rasmussen Reports poll just out Friday morning.

A new Rasmussen survey of likely voters shows the governor more popular than ever, at least in terms of her election chances against the likely Democratic opponent.

The poll shows Brewer breaking the all-important 50% threshold for the first time, besting Terry Goddard, the state's attorney general and likely opponent, by a 52%-39% margin.

[For the record at 12:58 p.m.: An earlier version of this post stated the misspelled the name of Arizona Atty. Gen. Terry Goddard as Goodard.]

More than 60% of Americans also approve of the strict new law.

How much does the immigration law come into play? Quite a lot. The candidates are opposed on the issue. Brewer, the champion of the law who signed it. Democrat Goddard, an outspoken critic, along with President Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Brewer's gubernatorial predecessor. (See Related Items below.)

In March, Goddard led Brewer 45-36%. After signing the immigration bill into law, Brewer led Goddard by 8 points -- 48%-40%. Now her lead is 13 points.

The results aren't too surprising when you consider the electorate's embrace of the law. Despite the media's focus on the minority who oppose the law, Arizonans support it -- big time.

By a 71%-24% margin, Arizona voters are in favor of the law.

Further, most Arizonans aren't worried about the negative attention.

"Despite announced boycotts by Los Angeles and Boston and threats from other cities, states and organizations, 47% of voters in Arizona think the new immigration law will be good for the state’s economy, up three points from late April," the report reads.

Check out the full Rasmussen Reports report here.

Related items:

Gov. Jan Brewer fires back at Calderon and Napolitano

Joe Biden update: Mexican Pres. Calderon's speech prompts deep thoughtzzz

Obama folks having real t-r-o-u-b-l-e reading Arizona's new i-l-l-e-g-a-l immigrant l-a-w

Los presidentes Calderon y Obama talk about the sensitive border issue

A California mayor wants to hang out the illegal immigrants Unwelcome sign

Support broadens among Americans for Arizona's illegal immigrant law

See for yourself: Complete text of the Arizona law and Executive Order

Arizona Gov. Brewer explains signing nation's toughest immigration bill

So what does the new Arizona law actually do?

-- Jimmy Orr

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Photo: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer; credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Sharie]

I lived in California for 29 years moving out 4 1/2 years ago. I am quite aware of the illegal problem in California. No matter what California may say they have a huge problem. Arizona has more guts than California, period. California is only interested in votes since they allow illegals to vote (and don't tell me it doesn't happen because it does). They don't care what damage the illegals cause to the state or to the people who live there legally. California is disgusting. The people in Arizona or any other state should not have to live in fear or have tremendous tax burden that the illegals are causing. If that is the way you want to live California, fine, open up your state and invite all the illegals to live there and tell them to leave the rest of the country alone. I think we should give California to Mexico. That is what Mexico wants. Why not do it. You have become a worthless state anyway. I now enjoy life in the state of Louisiana.

[Astonished]

Heck, she has my vote and I don't even live in Arizona! Maybe Mr. Villariagosa AND the President should look at the polls and see what AMERICAN's really want!

[I Love La]

Like the Lakers, Jan Brewer is a winner!

[Matt]

Shows the difference between the media/democrat team versus the people.

[YA]

Gov. Brewer, keep on pushing. You know the law better than Atty. Holder. Brewer is a True American.

[Dan the American]

God Bless you Lady. I hate to see you taking heat for this but i am so thankful someone in your position has the guts to uphold the law. My heart and prayers war with you.

[Paul Revere]

What would you do to defend your home and family if the police ignored or refused to do anything about them being invaded and attacked? Hooray, for brave Arizona!! Hey, President Obama; I'm planning to move my family and extended family into Mexico for my health, and I would like to ask you to assist me. We're planning to simply walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and we'll need your help to make a few arrangements. We plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here. So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Calderon, that I'm on my way over? And, please let him know that I will be expecting the following: 1. Free medical care for my entire family. 2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not. 3. Please print all Mexican government forms in English. 4. I want my grandkids to be taught Spanish by English-speaking (bi-lingual) teachers. 5. Tell their schools they need to include classes on American culture and history. 6. I want my grandkids to see the American flag on one of the flag poles at their school. 7. Please plan to feed my grand kids at school for both breakfast and lunch. 8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services. 9. I do plan to get a car and drive in Mexico, but, I don't plan to purchase car insurance, and I probably won't make any special effort to learn local traffic laws. 10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from their president to leave me alone, please be sure that every patrol car has at least one English-speaking officer. 11. I plan to fly the U.S. Flag from my house top, put U S. Flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals. 12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, or have any labor or tax laws enforced on any business I may start. 13. Please have the president tell all the Mexican people to be extremely nice and never say critical things about me or my family, or about the strain we might place on their economy. 14. I want to receive free food stamps. 15. Naturally, I'll expect free rent subsidies. 16. I'll need Income tax credits so although I don't pay Mexican Taxes, I'll receive money from the government. 17. Please arrange it so that the Mexican Gov't pays $4,500 to help me buy a new car. 18. Oh yes, I almost forgot, please enroll me free into the Mexican Social Security program so that I'll get a monthly income in retirement. I know that all this is an easy request to fulfill because you already do these things for all his people who walk over to the U.S. from Mexico. And, I am sure that President Calderon won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely. Thank you so much for your kind help Mr. President, A hopeful U.S. Citizen

[HappyCamper]

Good job! Thankfully someone has the STONES to do what is NEEDED.

[Clay Landon]

Of course her poll numbers went up. It's why she did it.

[Al]

I for one will Boycott LA. Please close your own borders and keep all of the nuts in California where they belong.

I plan to vacation in Arizona.

[ray]

Jan gets my vote and all of her constituents Bub!

[ray]

Does Jan want to run for Prez.? I will support her with my guns on !

[Sarah]

I am Mexican American and I also support this law. That's all I have to say.

[xicanoboy1331]

I agree, Shari -- give California back to Mexico, along with Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Idaho.....and have a good time cleaning up all that oil in Louisiana.

[Jon]

No no, xb1331, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Idaho are clearly supposed to be part of Loveless Land.

"Great Britain gets back the thirteen original colonies, minus Manhattan. Florida and the Fountain of Youth go back to Spain. Texas, New Mexico, California, Arizona revolve a México. And a little piece for me to retire on."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loveless_Land

[Jeff]

Rasmussen poll is bogus. He is a conservative republican himself and I see bias in these numbers. I live in Arizona and no for sure that the silent majority does not support Brewer and her party members also ridicule her in private. She has reduced Arizona to national (international) joke status. When the state is facing historic budget shortfalls, she has started her witch hunting on the minorities as the economy of the state crumbles to new lows.

[Joe Andrews]

The New iron Lady... a woman with balls...

[Jonalist]

I would rather have Governor Brewer take the place of Hilliary Clinton than have Obama push his ways onto other nations regarding our Health Care or our Immigration based on what Obama vaguely profiles in his speeches & documentaries. It is not like everyone is going to get anything better being a Government function, in fact the people will get 50% less if anything at all. Really blown out of perspective Health Care is not that big of a deal, except when you have Obama & his advisers & his CZARS set it up with Dr. Donald M. Berwick (Health Policy expert, to run Medicare and Medicaid) being in the background making the entire ordeal go the way he wants it to be written. Obama is to bypass Congress & appoint Dr. Donald M. Berwick. That's the 1st part of the scandal because states normally have the power to command which will be taken from states, the huge changes in the two programs.

My question is since the administration of Obama has declared that Tarp has actually made money then why are there still cuts in Medicare & Medicaid? Why also would Social Security have to be dismantled and payments to those receiving checks terminated? Profiting is one thing, illegal manipulation & control of the people another but it involves their money not Government nor Obama. I think the time has come to declare that Obama has failed to succeed on Health Care in America so he cannot take away the pride of all American's so easily.

[non chexsystems banks]

I'll support her. I admire her courage on this issue -- and issue a lot of politicians avoid for fear of losing votes...