Tancredo wins applause at NAACP

DETROIT -- As Susan Milligan noted in today's Globe, Republican presidential hopefuls have largely shied away from appearing before organizations and groups deemed to have a liberal slant. But don't tell that to US Representative Tom Tancredo of Colorado, the lone GOP candidate to appear this morning at the NAACP's annual convention in Detroit.

After he came out, Tancredo wandered around the empty stage, not knowing which podium to use. "Oh, right here?" he said when led to the center lectern. "Oh my gosh, this is amazing."

"Do you think we should wait a few minutes to see if these other guys show up?" Tancredo said, drawing a big laugh from the crowd. "Do they know something I don't know, is that it? I think actually I know something that they don't know."

That line drew a loud cheer from the audience, clearly appreciative that Tancredo had bothered to show up. He used his opening remarks to talk about his signature issue, illegal immigration, and how it was hurting American workers, and especially African-American workers. Tancredo said he gets "insulted" every time he hears that illegal immigrants are working jobs American citizens won't take.

"I've done those jobs, you've done those jobs, our kids have done those jobs," he said.

All eight Democratic presidential candidates will take part in the forum shortly.