The issue focused on race and illegal immigration. A candidate for the GOP nomination for Texas governor — a white man — provoked the outcry after calling the "certain kind" of illegal immigrants criminals and calling for punishments for such crimes as "long prison sentences" for those involved in illegal immigration.


Democratic Gov. Rick Perry, right, addresses a group of Republican state lawmakers on Oct. 31, 2015, at the Legislature in Austin. (David J. Phillip/AP)


Republican presidential candidate,