They will debate at the Mesa Arts Center at 6 p.m. MST. Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum are all expected to participate.
While the state's most divisive issue is immigration and its residents suffered suffered more than most during the housing-market crash, neither issue is what Arizonans care about most. According to Bruce Merrill, a public-opinion researcher for Arizona State University's Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Arizonans care most about jobs and education right now. "Right now, it doesn't matter what state you're in, jobs and the economy are Number 1," Merill told the Republic.
Immigration will likely come up in the debate, though. After several parts of Arizona's controversial immigration law, S.B. 1070, were struck down by a federal court last year, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on its constitutionality later this year. Oral arguments are scheduled for April 25.
