But last week, Wilson was startled by harsh criticism from two nationally prominent Republicans, former housing secretary Jack Kemp and former education secretary William Bennett. In a joint statement, Kemp and Bennett attacked the anti-immigrant fervor as ““pernicious’’ and un-American and predicted it could boomerang on the GOP. Bennett warned that the backlash could lead to ““a war of colors, a war of races. It’s bad stuff. It is poison in a democracy.’’ Kemp said he was ““concerned that, if [Proposition 187] passes in California, it will be introduced in other states and people will want to put it in the 1996 [Republican] platform. It corrodes the soul of the party.''

California Republicans were incensed. Harold Ezell, a former federal immigration official who is one of Proposition 187’s authors, said Kemp and Bennett ““made it difficult for every Republican in the state’’ who had endorsed it. Kemp, appearing at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda the same day, encountered a heckler who demanded to know why he didn’t ““just keep quiet.’’ Wilson tried to shrug it off. ““They’re nice guys, but I simply think they’re out of touch with reality,’’ he said. ““If they lived in California, I think they would be part of the two thirds of the people who are going to vote for Proposition 187.''

But the Kemp-Bennett statement offered nervous Democrats an opportunity – and both Bill Clinton and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, currently in a tough race against Republican millionaire Michael Huffington, jumped on it. Clinton warned that parts of the measure were unconstitutional. Feinstein, who has backed more moderate reform in the past, said she was opposing Proposition 187 – although she conceded her position might ““cost me votes, possibly even the election.''

The question now is whether the voters are listening. A statewide poll shows that 61 percent of the electorate currently favors Proposition 187, despite its opponents’ efforts to equate it with racism. Kemp’s and Bennett’s dissent may cause some Republicans to hesitate – just as Clinton’s intervention may rally some Democrats. But the election is only two weeks away, and it is already clear that the immigration issue is finally on the national political agenda – which is exactly what Proposition 187’s backers say they are trying to achieve.