Immigration is a hotly contested point among Republican candidates for the presidency, but conservative radio show host Hugh Hewitt said Thursday that the matter is not tearing the party apart.
"I don't think it is that deep of a divide," Hewitt told
CNN's "New Day" host Alisyn Camerota. "Ninety percent of the Republican primary electorate wants to know who can beat Hillary Clinton. And that will be the defining niche."
Hewitt, who will be a
panelist in CNN's GOP debate in Las Vegas on Dec. 15, said one of the issues he plans to focus on in that debate, though, will be national security.
But that does not mean he thinks Florida Sen. Marco Rubio won his point on national security, because as a panelist, he does not have a preferred answer.
"I think that the Republican primary voter wants to know exactly what each of these candidates think about American greatness and they want to know how they are going to contrast that with Hillary Clinton," said Hewitt.
He also challenged the media to ask Clinton about statements she tweeted about it being inhumane to deport 11 million people.
"People have to ask her, what are you going to do?" Hewitt said. "Are you going to build a wall? What are you going to do about the cartels and the terrorists who attempt to come in from Hezbollah, from the southern border to bomb the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington D.C.?"
But Hewitt agreed that there are "absolutely" disagreements over immigration, and they'll likely be discussed at great length.
"These are the issues I think Republicans agree on," said Hewitt. "Right now the media is trying to define the Republican field over immigration, and it is my job as the conservative media person to point to the fact that the biggest divide is between the Republican field and Mrs. Clinton and she's out of step with America."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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