Eric Kleefeld August 13, 2010, 3:22 PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has announced that he does not supporting amending the Constitution to eliminate birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants, an idea that has become a cause célèbre on the right.

Last week, McCain had told reporters, “I support the concept of holding hearings,” a less than totally clear response that led people to believe he might support pursuing a change. But now McCain has clarified exactly what he meant — telling the Associated Press that he was simply affirming the processes of the Senate itself.

“When I was asked … I said ‘Look, if senators want to have hearings then senators have hearings, that’s how the Senate works, but I’m not requesting hearings,’” McCain said in an interview Thursday. “I’m devoting all my efforts to getting the borders secure, and if you get the border secure than the difficulties and challenges with this issue of people coming across our border illegally to have children is dramatically reduced.”

When asked whether he would support a change, McCain said: “No. I mean, first of all we’d have to have hearings, we’d have to find out what the argument would be, but I certainly don’t at this time.”

McCain is facing a challenge in the Republican primary from former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, who has supported legislative efforts to end birthright citizenship on the argument that the 14th Amendment was not intended to cover the children of illegal immigrants. Experts have told TPM that any plans to change that right through legislation are “clearly unconstitutional.”

The TPM Poll Average gives McCain a lead of 53.6%-32.1% against Hayworth. The primary will be held on August 24.

Birthright citizenship, Immigration, John McCain