ROSSLYN, VA. — When Kim Wade pulled up in front of the Jackson, Miss., offices of Republican Sen. Trent Lott, a crowd was already waiting. They were students, professionals and homemakers, all members of the immigration-restriction advocacy group NumbersUSA. And they were all there to blast Lott for his support of the Senate immigration bill.
They delivered petitions bearing nearly 3,000 signatures, part of a multipronged campaign, imploring Lott not to "sell out Mississippi to illegal aliens." The office secretary "could barely receive them because the phones were ringing off the hook" with calls protesting Lott's immigration stance, said Wade, a local talk-radio host.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Tuesday June 26, 2007 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 30 words Type of Material: Correction
Immigration debate: In an article in Sunday's Section A about the galvanization of conservative grass-roots groups, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham was identified as representing North Carolina. He represents South Carolina.
TV, radio and Internet ads condemning Lott had been running for days before the Tuesday visit. By Friday, 1,000 more people had signed the NumbersUSA petition online.
Conservative anger at the Senate immigration bill is at such a pitch that even Republican lawmakers are feeling the heat. Groups like NumbersUSA have been channeling that grass-roots fury and, in doing so, have leaped in size and are playing a larger role in the immigration debate than ever before.
At NumbersUSA, one of the largest and loudest, membership is up 81% since January and donations are soaring. With the immigration bill possibly set to pass or fail in the Senate this week -- a crucial vote could come as early as Tuesday -- the nonprofit group plans a fierce campaign against the bill and any senator who supports it.
The group will unveil TV ads against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-N.C.). Another ad will target Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
NumbersUSA President Roy Beck expects to contact the group's activist members -- who he says now number 419,000 -- with dozens of e-mail alerts, many of which he sends at 2 and 3 a.m.
"We're in a war zone right now, so we're drawing down the reserves," said Beck, who describes his battle against pro-bill groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as "an amazing David-and-Goliath thing."
Among those pushing the new measure is President Bush, who appealed for support in his weekly Saturday radio address by stressing revisions to the bill that would require stepped-up enforcement before other provisions could take effect.
Most polls show that though Americans are concerned about border security, a majority favor finding a way to allow most now in the country illegally to gain legal status.
