McCain hopeful about immigration reform

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MEXICO CITY, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on a visit to Mexico, said immigration reform appears to be popular in the United States even if some Republicans still oppose it.

McCain is part of the "Gang of Eight," a group of senators from both parties working on a compromise bill. He said Friday he is "guardedly optimistic" about the effort, The Wall Street Journal reported.

After meeting with President Enrique Pena Nieto, McCain said he is convinced the Mexican leader is committed to trying to stop drug gangs. Pena recently said Mexico would shift its emphasis from aggressively carrying out arrests and drug seizures to trying to reduce the violence that comes from the drug trade.

The senator suggested he thinks there should be a shift in U.S. policy to trying to cut down on demand for illegal drugs. "As long as there's demand, there will be supply," McCain said.