The Social Science Journal 47 (2010) 646–658 Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Immigration in the 2008 Virginia presidential election: A cultural issue remains puissant despite an economic crisis Ward Kay ∗ , Jeremy Mayer George Mason University, School of Public Policy, United States Received 6 April 2009; received in revised form 16 February 2010; accepted 7 March 2010 Abstract In 2006 and 2007, many analysts expected that immigration would be one of the top domestic issues in the 2008 campaign. However, in the 2008 presidential general election, immigration issues were never a major topic between candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. This was partially because McCain has more moderate views toward immigration reform than the passionate anti-immigration faction of the Republican Party. Prior research suggests that an issue in a presidential campaign can remain influential even when the media and campaigns are not discussing or addressing the issue, even when the candidates or parties do not differ greatly on the issue. In a survey of Virginia residents conducted just before the November election, immigration attitudes were a differential factor between McCain and Obama. © 2010 Western Social Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. In 2006 and 2007, many analysts expected that immigration would be one of the top domestic issues in the 2008 campaign. The national media covered unprecedented protests in multiple cities in April and May of 2006, and again the following spring. Counter protests ensued, and local and state politicians advocated and occasionally passed controversial measures for and against illegal immigrants. In 2005, 2006, and 2007 Congress debated myriad legislative proposals either to reform immigration laws or crackdown on illegal immigrants. At certain points, Congress was engulfed by constituents angrily opposing reform legislation, particularly in 2007. At least one 2008 presidential candidate, Republican Tom Tancredo, made immigration the central focus of his long shot campaign. On the other side of ∗ Corresponding author at: George Mason University, School of Public Policy, 4400 University Dr., MSC 3C6, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States. Tel.: +1 703 869 8208. E-mail address: wkay1@gmu.edu (W. Kay). 0362-3319/$ – see front matter © 2010 Western Social Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.soscij.2010.03.002