As Republican Senators nationwide line up behind Jim Gilmore, The NRSC has come out swinging against Mark Warner on the issue of illegal immigration:

Marky Mark Flips On Immigration

Friday, January 11, 2008
NRSC Press Office

Democrat candidate sings new election year tune on red-hot issue

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Once failed Senate candidate, former presidential candidate and still VP hopeful Mark Warner is attempting to confuse voters on the red-hot issue of immigration. He's apparently forgotten he has a record on the issue that stands in stark contrast to what he said this week on the campaign trail.

According to WHSV-TV, Mark Warner "says the federal government needs to step up on enforcing illegal immigration. The U.S. Senate candidate says the federal government has been slacking for the last 15 years ..." "Warner believes there needs to be sanctions if employers knowingly hired illegal immigrants." (WHSV-TV, 1/11/08)

But now Warner is in his first race where he has to run on his record, and his record tells a very different story.

As Governor of Virginia, Mark Warner amended legislation to give in-state tuition to illegal immigrants:

"Gov. Mark Warner has amended legislation that would deny in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants ... rejecting the outright ban sought by ... the Republican-controlled General Assembly." (Roanoke Times, 3/23/03)

Warner's spokeswoman even went so far as to say Warner's changes reflected a "basic sense of fairness." (The Associated Press, 3/27/03)

When the General Assembly rejected Warner's changes, Mark Warner vetoed the legislation ... (The Washington Post, 5/1/03)

"It's ironic that now that Mark Warner wants to be a U.S. Senator, he's on the campaign trail trying to score a political victory on immigration that stands in stark contrast to his record on the issue," NRSC Communications Director Rebecca Fisher said. "Mark Warner is running from his record as Governor of Virginia and he is going to have to answer uncomfortable questions."