Cannon tough on immigration?

However, Chaffetz says his "crystal clear" view is that the only pathway to citizenship is for those here illegally to return to their home country. That is a contrast to Cannon's plan.

Chaffetz adds he wants to come up with a solution to what he sees as an immoral status quo, which exploits low skilled immigrant workers. That's why he said he'd push for visa reform, if elected, along with getting tough on enforcement.

"The idea that it's OK to have this second class of people because it's good for the economy is a very immoral position to take," Chaffetz said. "That's the Cannon position."

Either way, both candidates say immigration ranks as a top issue in the district. Chaffetz says it ranks only behind energy costs and federal fiscal responsibility.

Cannon said polling by his campaign shows that immigration is secondary to such things as the economy or the price of gasoline. Still, it was key enough for him to send out the mail ad focusing only on it.

Cannon adds, "We certainly polled it (immigration) to see were people are. But I didn't do it to decide where I am," and said poll results have not changed his stands.

But Cannon charges that Chaffetz has moderated his tough stands.

"Here's a guy who before the convention was acting like Utah's version of (Rep.) Tom Tancredo (a strident congressional foe of illegals), who now...in his Web site says illegal should be able to stay and get a temporary pass, and not do anything," such as pay a fine.

Chaffetz says he's been steadfast in insisting the only way undocumented workers could hope for citizenship under his plan would be to return to their home countries and apply from there. Chaffetz does have a plan for undocumented workers, but he calls it a "pathway to deportation." Undocumented workers could sign up for temporary visas, and would have to leave the country when their visa expires, or face jail time along with deportation.

"Mr. Cannon has been one of the great impediments to solving this problem," Chaffetz said. "The bottom line is immigration has gotten worse during Cannon's term, not better."

Amid Cannon's claims to be tough as nails against illegals, anti-undocumented worker groups have been funneling money to Chaffetz this year — as they have to Cannon opponents in the past.

Such groups have given Chaffetz $7,724 so far, about 5 percent of the total he has raised from all sources.

Cannon has attacked such groups in the past. In a 2004 House hearing, he attacked several of them as being funded or headed by John Tanton, whose goals Cannon said have "been very clear, that is: zero population, sterilization, abortion, eugenics, euthanasia." The groups said Cannon's assertions were "absurd."