Tancredo joins 2008 race, focus on immigration

DES MOINES (Reuters) - Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado formally announced his candidacy for the U.S. 2008 presidential race on Monday, saying he would make fighting illegal immigration the focus of his campaign.

The 61-year-old lawmaker, who is in his fifth term, made the announcement on a talk radio show. He had announced the formation of an exploratory committee in January.

Tancredo said he chose to go on WHO Radio in Iowa to make the announcement because "I have probably done about 1,800 or more talk radio shows .. on the issue of illegal immigration. It's given me a megaphone that I never would have had. It's allows you to talk directly to the American people."

Iowa holds the first test of voter sentiment on the presidential field with its caucuses in January, 2008.

Tancredo said the country is "fighting far-flung battles in lands far away from the United States and we're doing that to defend the nation. But this battle over immigration is really to define the nation."

His long-shot bid puts him in a Republican field including former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

Tancredo has been a leading voice in Congress against proposals for guest worker programs and in favor of stronger border security to stop illegal immigrants entering from Mexico. He generated controversy at one point by saying Miami resembled "a third world country."