Texas governor Rick Perry found an unusual source of support Thursday: Maryland Democratic governor Martin O’Malley
Mr. O’Malley, a Democrat, praised Mr. Perry’s stance on immigration reform on Thursday, saying the Texas Republican should be commended on his willingness to reject immigration policies based on discrimination.
“I do admire his willingness to stand up to the immigrant-bashers and thinly-veiled racism and scapegoating that is so rampant in their party,” Mr. O’Malley said.
Mr. O’Malley, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, praised the Republican presidential candidate for his defense of a Texas law that allows children of undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition rates, a move that Mr. Perry’s Republican opponents have criticized.
Praise from the Maryland Democrats comes as Mr. Perry continues to lead a series of recently released polls. The Texas governor is now considered the Republican front-runner.
While, Mr. O’Malley praised Mr. Perry’s stance on immigration reform, the Maryland Democrat also took a chance to score some political points, slamming Republicans for the nation’s economic woes.
“Republicans are responsible for an awful lot of damage to our country’s economy. .. Their worship at the altar of tax cuts for the wealthy is unbecoming to the vast majority of hard-working families who want a better future for their kids,” Mr. O’Malley said.
