Opinion: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer surges past 50% in new poll after signing illegal immigrant bill

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

(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

Click here to receive legal Twitter alerts of each new Ticket item. Follow us @latimestot Or Like our Facebook page right here.