Poll: Battleground States Frown on Obama's Immigration Approach

As the November midterms — and the battle for control of the Senate — near, two-thirds of likely voters in battleground states disapprove of how President Barack Obama has handled immigration, according to the results of a Politico poll.

The results come on the heels of Obama's about-face on his promise to use executive action to allow millions of illegal immigrants to remain in the country without fear of deportation.

In what has been touted by the right as political gamesmanship, Obama recently announced he would wait until after the elections to take action. The decision drew the ire of immigration-reform advocates, such as Frank Cherry, executive director of America's Voice.

He told Fox News that "we are bitterly disappointed in the president. The president and Senate Democrats have chosen politics over people."

According to the Politico poll, 64 percent of voters in the most competitive House and Senate races disapprove of how the president is handling immigration. More voters trust Republicans than Democrats on the issue, including 26 percent of independents. Eighteen percent of independents said they have more trust in Democrats to handle immigration reform.

A majority of Hispanic voters still side with Democrats on immigration — 48 percent — while 27 percent said they had more trust in the GOP, though nearly half of Hispanic voters disapprove of the way Obama has handled immigration reform.

The issue has become a political football with red state Democrats.

North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat, has spoken out against executive action on immigration reform. Hagan is embroiled in a tight race with her Republican challenger, Thom Tillis.

"I don't think it should be by executive action," Hagan recently told Politico. "I made the comment weeks and weeks ago that this is a congressional decision. I've supported the immigration reform bill and … I think the House needs to take that legislation up."

Ditto for Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.

"Significant executive action would undermine support for comprehensive reform and actually perhaps could set the cause back," King said. "It's not about the midterms. It's about whether this is a good policy decision, and I don't think it is."

But Democrats who favor comprehensive reform are angry that Obama has floundered on his promise.

"No more excuses," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois. "I don't care what senator is dangling in the wind, I don't care what Republican proposal is being put forward, I don't care what happens, we are moving forward. The holiday season must be a season of blessings for millions of undocumented families across America."

Related Stories:

• Report: Obama to Push for Immigration Reform by End of Year
• Latino Leaders: Obama Betrayed Us With Immigration Flip-Flop