Sheriff Joe Arpaio to Endorse Rick Perry Next Week
EmailSheriff Joe Arpaio, the sheriff of Maricopa County, Ariz., who calls himself “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” will endorse Texas Gov. Rick Perry next week, a source with knowledge of the endorsement told ABC News.
Arpaio espouses a hard-line stance on illegal immigration, leading raids to round up and jail illegal immigrants, and was a major proponent of the controversial Arizona immigration law. Perry has spoken with Arpaio several times over the phone since entering the presidential race.
Arpaio, a much sought after endorsement in the GOP field, plans to campaign with Perry in New Hampshire next week, the source said. The Texas governor will be in the Granite State Tuesday and Wednesday, holding three town halls and a breakfast at the Nashua Chamber of Commerce along with speaking at the New Hampshire State House.
Perry, who touts himself as the only candidate with firsthand experience in dealing with border security, encountered backlash from Republican voters after a statement he made in a September debate suggesting that those who oppose the education of illegal immigrants “don’t have a heart.”
Perry has since walked back that statement, saying on several occasions that it was “inappropriate” and “insulting.”
As Texas governor, Perry signed a voter ID law, vetoed a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses and sent $400 million to the border in the form of Texas Ranger reconnaissance teams.
Unlike the rest of the Republican field, Perry opposes the construction of a fence along the entire U.S-Mexico border. Instead, Perry says the fences should be concentrated in metropolitan areas.
During Texas’ last legislative session, Perry attempted to pass a law that banned sanctuary cities, even setting it as an “emergency” item, but the bill failed to pass in the state legislature’s special session this summer.
Over the past three months, Arpaio has sent short missives over Twitter indicating his courtship by Republican candidates. Arpaio met Rep. Michele Bachmann in September and Herman Cain in October, and he has spoken over the phone with Mitt Romney. In 2008, Arpaio endorsed Romney over Sen. John McCain.
Arpaio adopts a tough stance on crime and punishment, which includes housing prisoners in tents, making them wear pink underwear and putting them to work on chain gangs.
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Great timing – after Romney’s Iowa mailers promising a complete border fence were printed, mailed, and delivered.
Maybe now Republicans will take the time and look at a map in order to understand why it is impractical to build a 1,200 mile fence in the middle of the Rio Grande River, which forms the Texas-Mexico border.
Thank you ABC, for real reporting.
Posted by: K2K | November 26, 2011, 8:30 pm 8:30 pm
Oh come on. We can’t cheat the fence over to our side of the river – on dry land?
Posted by: Logicsgood5 | November 26, 2011, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
Who gives a flaming rip? Joe Aparo should long ago have been arrested for human rights violations.
Posted by: DigitalAtheist | November 26, 2011, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
I endorse Obama, For dog catcher. Big deal. Speaking of that any one seen BO lately.
Posted by: deadwrestler | November 26, 2011, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
Perry has an awful record with illegal aliens, what is Joe thinking?
Posted by: Cheryl Cornell | November 26, 2011, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm
Perry must have assured Arpaio is isn’t going require him to educate them in his tent cities.
Posted by: James | November 26, 2011, 10:46 pm 10:46 pm
(Insert link here: CNN interview, Lou Dobbs interviews Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Arpaio makes statement: Its an honor to be compared to the Klu Klux Klan)
Posted by: MrMailman | November 26, 2011, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
I have lost all respect for Joe Arpaio now.
To endorse a moron that sucks at debates, is pro-illegal on college tuition and doesn’t want a border fence, and especially is bigoted against the LDS Church- he has spat in the eyes of Americans who fall victim to illegals in crime and violence.
I will never support Joe for anything again
Posted by: Cody | November 26, 2011, 11:49 pm 11:49 pm
One moron endorsing another shouldn’t be a shock to anyone!
Posted by: Christine | November 27, 2011, 12:24 am 12:24 am
These people are always saying something to sound tuff when they know a fence is like locking your front door….all it will do is keep honest people out. That’s why the media is giving the GOP a free pass by not pressing the ones who say they can’t address immigration until the borders are secured.
Posted by: focusonjobs1 | November 27, 2011, 2:26 am 2:26 am
And we care why?
Posted by: lexingtonlady | November 27, 2011, 2:46 am 2:46 am
I respect Sheriff Arpaio but I won’t condemn him on the word of an unnamed source.
Posted by: HelKircher | November 27, 2011, 4:38 am 4:38 am
Is that Tripati guy still sitting wrongfully in jail? And hasn’t got a penny of the court ordered compensation?
You make Stalin-era Soviet Union sound like the highest in the sense of constitutional democracy!
Posted by: Finn guy | November 27, 2011, 7:35 am 7:35 am
Must be a really slow news day when this constitutes a headline.
Posted by: David | November 27, 2011, 7:53 am 7:53 am
Nice to see that a serious and effective official whose interest is that of protecting the country, is endorsing Rick Perry, the only candidate who’s interest is also the benefit and protection of the country, not for self aggrandizement like the others.
These debates should be called “Flip Flop Contests” and I’m tired of hearing one candidate after another lie about what position they have today. It’s ridiculous and a shame we would elect the highest official in the land based on the ‘slickest’ tongue. PERRY/PRESIDENT 2012!!
Posted by: NoMitt/NoNewt | November 27, 2011, 10:52 am 10:52 am
This appears to be a total and complete lie by the media. Should it turn out to be true, the filth behind the Russell Pearce recall might just get their wish and Arpaio will be bounced by Arizona voters next November. I’ll believe this when I see it happen.
Posted by: ZOO | November 27, 2011, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
I’ll believe it when I see and hear it too. Perry is anything but tough on illegal immigration. On the contrary, they are awarded in-state tuition under his watch. Frankly he is one that should drop out.
Posted by: Kathy | November 27, 2011, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
Maybe the good Sheriff can send the illegals he arrests in Arizona to Texas to get a 4 year University education and UT?
Posted by: valwayne | November 27, 2011, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
…valwayne, this issue is a poor reason to note vote for Rick Perry. Maybe illegals can be sent to MA to get free romneycare and free planned parenthood benefits too…..at least in the states who allow in-state tuition, they are at least paying for something unlike the other FREEBEES they’re getting elsewhere….
States who allow in-state tuition to illegals are Maryland, NY, Connecticut currently considering, Wisconsin, Texas, New Mexico, California, Utah (Huntsman), Oklahoma, Kansas, Washington, Nebraska and Illinois. Bet you didn’t know that.
Posted by: nomitt/nonewt | November 27, 2011, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
It certainly appears that the taxpayers of Maricopa County may be coming up short with Sheriff Joe tweeting his political views and campaigning about the country for national political candidates. If Sheriff Joe enjoys the national spotlight at the expense of his county’s taxpayers, maybe he would be well advised to “pull a Palin” and quit! If Sheriff Joe really enjoys the national attention, maybe he could petition “Dancing with the Stars” for a cameo spot. Get to work Sheriff Joe and quite your political lollygagging!
Posted by: Rattlesnake Bob | November 27, 2011, 11:54 pm 11:54 pm
Good sheriff
Good Gov
Go Perry 2012
Posted by: joe | November 28, 2011, 12:07 am 12:07 am
HAHA What? He has endorsed him already or he hasn’t. What is this next week stuff about? What a joke. Plus, Perry tough on illegal immigration? I don’t think so. Something isn’t right. Then again, this is status quo politics and it will continue to be that way unless Ron Paul gets elected. However, we all know the elites fear Ron Paul and that darn Constitution!
Posted by: Bill | November 28, 2011, 12:15 am 12:15 am
I have always been a Republican. After living in Arizona and now living in Alaska, please do not put Joe Arpaio and Palin in the same sentence. Sheriff Arpaio is a true professional and conservative and only wish we had a man like him in Alaska. If you beliieve in America then you would also believe in Sheriff Joe Arpaio and all he believes in……………or maybe you don’t know him!
Posted by: Helen Warman | November 28, 2011, 1:45 am 1:45 am
Why should I care about this guy endorsing someone????
Posted by: pksk531 | November 28, 2011, 8:21 am 8:21 am
Awesome!
Perry 2012
Posted by: sheila | November 28, 2011, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
YES! Great Work Sherrif! You’re verifying again how intelligent you are.
PERRY PRESIDENT 2012!!!
Posted by: nomitt/nonewt | November 28, 2011, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
Both good men that I respect.
Go Perry 2012
Posted by: bobbie | November 28, 2011, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
Vote Perry 2012
Thank you Sheriff Joe
Posted by: BarbaraJo | November 28, 2011, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
Fantastic!
Perry is the only conservative in the race.
Thank you Sheriff Joe for the support
Posted by: Jim | November 28, 2011, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
Arpaio needs to be replaced; no more corruption, abuse of power and mismanagement.
MCSO needs a professional law enforcement manager and leader.
VOTE MIKE STAUFFER FOR MARCOPA COUNTY SHERIFF 2012!
Posted by: wasillawitch | November 28, 2011, 9:52 pm 9:52 pm