Group Launches 'Lou Dobbs for President' Site

WASHINGTON — A group that seeks stronger immigration controls launched a Web site Wednesday that could be used to try to draft CNN anchor Lou Dobbs to be a presidential candidate.

The group — Americans for Legal Immigration PAC — said that 84 percent of its members would vote for Dobbs "if the GOP primary fails to yield a candidate opposed to amnesty." The group says it has 25,000 supporters in 50 states.

Dobbs devotes much of his nightly news and opinion show to illegal immigration, raising the ire of many Latino groups who say he is xenophobic and anti-Hispanic. Others say he is a hero for working-class Americans because he exposes problems caused by illegal immigration and the exporting of jobs overseas.

William Gheen, president of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, said that Dobbs has "earned national recognition for his tough stance on border security and curbing illegal immigration" and that his focus on the economy, trade agreements and America's middle class would appeal to Democrats, Republicans and independents.

"Lou Dobbs could run and win because he could easily raise the funds and grassroots support he needs to be a historic and viable candidate quickly. The public is eager to rebuke the D.C. status quo and would quickly rally to Dobbs," Gheen said.

Gheen said that the group would push Dobbs if former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, or Sen. John McCain of Arizona become the Republican nominee.

Americans for Legal Immigration PAC was created in 2004 and is based in Raleigh, N.C. It is one of many groups lobbying for tighter border security and against efforts to give a path to citizenship to illegal immigrants. The group often features stories about crimes committed by illegal immigrants on its Web site as well as other immigration news.

The site — www.loudobbsforpresident.org — allows people to sign up as potential volunteers and contributors.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal quoted Dobbs as saying that he wasn't planning to run for office. However, he also said, "I cannot say never."

A spokeswoman for CNN said the network had no comment on the Web site.

On the Web:

Americans for Legal Immigration PAC: www.alipac.us