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Arizona’s controversial immigration law is being challenged by the federal government in an attempt to keep other states from passing similar laws. Arizona’s attempt to bypass federal law and fight immigration at the state level is becoming a rallying cry in the GOP gubernatorial primary. As Whitney Ray tells us, both Bill McCollum and Rick Scott support the law and want the Obama administration to butt out of the state’s business.

The attacks started early in the Republican Primary for governor. Now immigration is at the center of the debate. Newcomer Rick Scott was the first to come out in support of Arizona’s new law allowing police officers to check the legal status of people thought to be in the state illegally.

“Rick Scott backs Arizona’s law. He’ll bring it to Florida, and let our police check if the people they arrest are here legally,” a female voiced stated in one of Scott’s first campaign ads.

That is if Scott is elected governor, and if the new law is a success. But the law may never have a chance to fail. It’s scheduled to take hold July 29th, but a federal lawsuit filed this week aims at stopping Arizona.

The suit claims the Federal government has sole authority to handle immigration issues, resurrecting a debate as old as this country: state’s rights versus federal law. Bill McCollum is chastising President Barack Obama for interfering.

“I think he will lose in court. I think states have the right to enforce their own laws,” said McCollum.

Rick Scott says he’s stronger on the immigration issue than McCollum.

“He’s basically trying to pander to a bunch of different groups, you know he is the attorney general. He’s responsible for enforcing the law in the state, and he ought to be doing that,” said Scott.

With the primary nearing, proving who is tougher on illegal immigration will likely be a fight that rages over the next month and a half.

Democratic candidate for governor, Alex Sink, released this statement in response to the Arizona law challenge:

“Like most Americans, I see an immigration system that is broken and needs to be fixed. The Federal government has not lived up to its responsibility to secure our borders and crack down on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. The federal lawsuit against the Arizona law does not address the real problem – Washington should be a partner, helping fix our immigration problems and enforce our laws.”