Oops:

Growing numbers of immigrants — legal and illegal — are changing the composition of affluent suburban towns across the country, impacting independent and Democratic-leaning voters, who are concerned that schools are overcrowded, health care systems are strained and crime is on the rise.

Forty percent of respondents to a newly conducted, Democrat-sponsored Democracy Corps poll said the main reason the country is going in the wrong direction is that “our borders have been left unprotected and illegal immigration is growing.” Immigration was easily voters’ top priority, beating out concerns over the Iraq war, health care and the economy.

Can’t be good news for Democrats. This also explains why Bush’s numbers are so low given his weak stance on immigration. It’s not all about liberals’ opposition to the war in Iraq (which is suddenly not front page news anymore now that the news is good).

So why are Democrats feeling a pinch on the issue now?

And most Hispanic voters, one of the fastest-growing voting blocs, are strongly opposed to greater enforcement of illegal immigration.

But blue-collar workers, union members and African-Americans — all key parts of the Democratic coalition — have traditionally been more hostile to unfettered immigration, given that greater (and cheaper) job competition leads to depressed wages and a tighter job market.

This, in addition to trying to balance between pro-war and anti-war factions in their own camps. Hmm, Democrats in a quagmire on how to pander to competing groups of victims… That sounds familiar.