Hudson, New Hampshire (CNN) – Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona will campaign with Rick Perry in New Hampshire on Tuesday, the Texas governor's campaign told CNN on Saturday.
The man famous for his tough stance on illegal immigration has not endorsed a presidential candidate, though he has been courted by the likes of Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, businessman Herman Cain, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Perry.
Arpaio is a hard-liner on illegal immigration in a state known for its tough 2010 law on the issue. Among other provisions of the law, it would require that local police, during the enforcement of other laws, check the immigration status of anyone they suspected of being undocumented.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit said the measure overstepped Arizona's authority, and the state is seeking a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to settle the issue.
Arpaio's endorsement could be helpful to Perry, who has been the subject of criticism from conservatives for some of his actions on illegal immigration.
Perry caused a firestorm of complaints when he suggested people didn't "have a heart" if they did not support educating the children of illegal immigrants.
The governor later said his remarks were "inappropriate."
Arpaio is a well-known and controversial personality who is running for his sixth term as sheriff. In an interview with CNN earlier this month he brushed off concerns about a federal investigation into abuse of power and allegations of racial profiling by his office.
Perry will spend three days in New Hampshire on his eighth visit to the state, where he ranks in the single digits in recent polls.
– CNN's Ed Lavandera and Tracy Sabo contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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II guess they haven't polled most of the nation on this Sheriff's credibility...most find him a racist jerk who has gone cowboy on the citizens in Arizona. This is an ignorant sadistic man and those who court him for favor are as nuts as him.
Bad combination.. Let persecution ensue with these two if they ever get into office
I really don't know how campaigning with that idiot sheriff will help Perry's cause. Arpaio is way too controversial for most people. It will only "lock up" the vote for Perry with people who were already going to vote for Perry.
Great! Good running mate for Perry...Two of a kind.All they need is W.
"I am with STUPID."
Who cares who campaigns with Perry?
Perry is a dumb Texas jack*** and doesn't stand a prayer of a chance.
A complete loser, with a milstone around his nect. Couldn't sink faster if he were a rock thrown into a river.
If Perry and Sheriff Joe hook up we know it will be purely political pandering on Perry's part. These two are night and day when it comes to illegal imagrants and this would prove that Perry has no cajones and will pander for publicity, and is yet more proof that Republicans fully expect that voters are too stupid to see through this smokescreen
I really like Arpaios stance on criminals. I am very disapppointed in the sheriff because he is runnig around with the Presidential candidate that is for spending tax money to send ILLEGALS to college. The sheriff usually makes sense, but he must have been in the Arizona heat a little to much to be running with the Ilk known as slick rick. I think that the Arizona and Alabama laws on immigration should be mandatory for the entire United States. Seal the Border, have a round-up.
Governor Perry is really trying to backpedal on his comment about people not wanting to educate children of illegal aliens being heartlesss by aligning himself with someone who has no problem with stopping anyone who doesn't look like they belong here.
He had better be careful. He'll have to distance himself from the racist sheriff very soon as well. Just take a stance and stick with it, whether it's popular or not. His campaign is more than likely done. He's not ready for primetime.
I thought Joe was smarter than that!!!
Arpaio is my personal law enforcement hero.
See fairus dot org for comprehensive data on illegal aliens.
If this does not kill Perry's campaign.....nothing will!
I am a huge fan of Sheriff Arpaio and his hard nosed stances on what he believes in. He takes hard stances against criminals and that is a person I can get behind. I'd like to hear from Mr. Arpaio, if true, why he's endorcing Perry.
Arpaio the A$$wipe makes Perry look like Jerry Brown
Sattle up partner!
I do not think much of any of the GOP candidates but at least Perry is not a re-tread. Romney and Gingrich are already 0 for 1 in aspiring to be president. Either one will be 0 for 2 even after going up against the worst president in US history.
Writing from Tucson, I am glad to hear that Sheriff Arpaio is campaigning with Rick Perry. Gov. Perry is the most reasonable of candidates on border issues and Sheriff Arpaio is a law and order man. I hope the good people of New Hampshire are listening to their experience and success.
Hey CNN ! Why the heck has my comment been stuck awaiting moderation ALL NIGHT LONG ! ??
Da! Why am I not surprised that the conservatives would support this man who knows so little about governing and suffers from brain farts! It runs in the party!
Clint Eastwood could not help Rick Perry out of the mess he is in. Every time he opens his mouth, he sinks lower in the polls, if thats possible. His electability in Texas speaks volumes on how they think down there. Keep hin in Texas.
both are just idiots, and you need to ignore these stupid jerk...o.k, shame on these.
What a pair! Arpaio is one of the things wrong with AZ. He hates 1/3 of his own state's population.
Well there you have it! The wild west has now been completely reborn.
I always wondered if Perry was a Nazi wannabe.