Romney ad paints Huckabee as soft on illegal immigrants

Mitt Romney attempts to paint Mike Huckabee as soft on illegal immigrants in a television advertisement that begins airing today in Iowa.

The ad is part of Romney’s attempt to fight back against Huckabee’s recent surge to the top of Iowa polls.

“On immigration, the choice matters,” the narrator says in the ad, which describes Huckabee’s onetime support for a proposal in Arkansas that would have given a tuition discount to the children of illegal immigrants.

Huckabee has defended his position by saying children shouldn’t be punished for the crimes of their parents.

The ad begins by highlighting the similarities between Romney and Huckabee.

“Two former governors. Both good family men. Both support a constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage,” the narrator says.

Huckabee is scheduled to campaign in western and southern Iowa today. His campaign didn’t have an immediate response to the Romney ad.