Franks Skips Border Security Event With Flake, McCain

By Josh Kraushaar  //  March 24, 2011 | 11:22 a.m.
Updated: March 25, 2011 | 9:55 p.m.

Sean Sullivan wrote today on Rep. Jeff Flake's (R-Ariz.) effort to emulate Sen. John McCain's political strategy by backing away from comprehensive immigration reform as he faces the likelihood of a primary challenge from the right.

It's no coincidence, then, that Flake is appearing alongside McCain and nearly all of the state's Republican Congressional delegation today at an event in Tucson, Arizona designed to propose solutions on how to best seal the border.

But perhaps most noteworthy is the fact that Rep. Trent Franks (R) who is considering challenging Flake in the Republican Senate primary, is the only Arizona Republican congressman who won't attend.

A McCain spokesperson said that Franks was invited, but turned down the opportunity to join his congressional colleagues for the border security event.

It's not too hard to figure out why Franks might be hesitant at joining Flake and McCain at an immigration event. Franks, if he runs, would logically focus on immigration to attack Flake -- but if he showed up alongside him at a border security event, it could be use to blunt any suggestion that the differences between the two on immigration are that significant. The dynamic between the two Republican congressmen is worth watching closely over the next weeks. Another sign of tension: an "adviser to a potential GOP challenger" (read: Franks) sent Politico a televised clip of Flake criticizing proposals to deport illegal immigrants on CNN.

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