McCain Concedes Immigration Reform Bill Won't Gain GOP 'A Single Hispanic Voter'

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) conceded on Monday that Republicans will not win one new Hispanic voter over by passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill. 

“Let’s say we enact it, comprehensive immigration reform, I don’t think it gains a single Hispanic voter,” McCain said in an interview with PBS’s Gwen Ifill. “But what it does, it puts us on a playing field where we can compete for the Hispanic voter.”

McCain has made comments indicating comprehensive immigration reform will not win over Hispanics, but he has also suggested that comprehensive immigration reform is a type of “gateway issue” that Republicans need to pass for Hispanics to consider voting for Republicans. 

McCain continued, “If we don’t do that, frankly… I see further polarization of the Hispanic voter and the demographics are clear that the Republican Party cannot win a national election. That’s just a fact.”