The importance of the issue of illegal immigration in the 2008 governor’s campaign is emphasized by what the two leading candidates were doing Monday. Governor Blunt was hedge-hopping to news conferences talking about his newest get-tough proposals targeting illegal aliens. The legislature will be asked to pass the plans next year. Attorney General Nixon was letting it be known he had successfully prosecuted a Lake of the Ozarks developer for hiring illegal immigrants to build luxury condos. The developer gets five years probation and one-million dollars in fines and penalties. Blunt has not officially announced his re-election plans, but has raised a lot of money for a campaign next year. Blunt is a Republican. Nixon is the leading Democrat for governor in 2008.