Could a McCain presidency force a political re-alignment?

[Jacobtm]

Even though McCain isn't the "maverick" he once was, he still defies the Republican parties on many issues, notably immigration. Let's say he is elected president, and signs into law a bill which provides a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, and also allows more legal immigrants into the country. If this happens, in 2012, could we see some states that are completely safe Republican state (Texas, Arizona, North Carolina) voting against the Republicans? Could McCain in effect lose the south-west for the Republicans like Johnson lost the south-east for Democrats with civil-rights legislation?

I feel like he very easily could alienate MANY Republican voters who could easily be swayed to vote for a protectionist Democrat.

[Gustaf]

It's likely that Hispanics could swing in the other direction in that case and since the anti-immigrant conservatives and the Hispanics tend to live in the same states I'd suspect it to cancel out, by and large.

[Jacobtm]

It's likely that Hispanics could swing in the other direction in that case and since the anti-immigrant conservatives and the Hispanics tend to live in the same states I'd suspect it to cancel out, by and large.

It'd be so funny if the Republican coalition was suddenly 1/4 hispanic.