Found another eligible entry for the “a broken clock is right twice a day” department, this one from E.J. Dionne, WaPo’s wet-noodle moderate-Dem columnist.  Here he has an educated hunch about a wedge issue for ‘08 congressional elections, starting off like so:

Want a preview of coming attractions in next year’s elections? Listen to a television ad from Bob Latta, who is trying to hold on to a traditionally Republican congressional district in Ohio’s special election today.

“Broken borders, and Washington does nothing,” the announcer intones. “Had enough? Bob Latta wants to get tough.” Latta’s “plan” includes “no amnesty for illegal immigrants,” cutting off “taxpayer-subsidized welfare benefits” and, of course, “no driver’s license.”

Latta is facing a strong challenge from Democrat Robin Weirauch, who is running on trade and health care. But he is apparently not worried that the Republican Party’s increasingly punitive approach to immigration is costing the GOP Hispanic votes. That may be because people of Hispanic origin account for only 3.8 percent of the population of Ohio’s 5th District. (emphasis mine)

From there, he goes on to point out how Hispanics are swinging heavily towards Democrats, & the difference in Hispanic population between some western states & certain house congressional districts.

As a “moderate”, E.J. inevitably plays it off as simple math, weaseling around the elephant in the room.  I, on the other hand, am militant asshole enough to point it out: the ones going all Tancredo-esque in districts w/ virtually no Hispanics are in effect telling the majority in those areas “vote for me an’ I’ll keep out dem durn messikins for good!”.  Seriously, as silly as the border panic is for the country as a whole, no one in Ohio should be thinking reconquista is around the corner.