MYRTLE BEACH In Florida, Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney is airing campaign commercials in Spanish telling Hispanics he's "one of us." In South Carolina, he is touting the endorsement of Kris Kobach, an anti-immigration activist who helped spearhead state laws that have sparked anger among Latinos.

Romney's straddle reflects a dilemma he and the Republican Party face if he becomes the nominee: his aggressive stance against illegal immigration during the primary may become a drag on efforts to appeal to Hispanics whose votes could determine the outcome of the presidential race in states such as Colorado, Virginia and Florida.

"The conventional wisdom and the general fear is right, that some Republicans, and some of the most important Republicans with the loudest microphones, are digging a very big hole for themselves that's going to be hard to get out of," said Tamar Jacoby, a Republican immigration specialist who has advised Arizona Sen. John McCain and former House speaker Newt Gingrich on the issue and is neutral in this year's race.

Romney "is unfortunately taking one of the harshest tones," added Jacoby, who heads ImmigrationWorks USA, a national federation of employers pressing for new laws on the issue. "I have some hope for a course correction, but I think right now, for many Latinos, all they can hear is that off-putting first statement that really translates into, 'We don't like people who look and sound like you.' "

During a debate in Myrtle Beach Monday night, Romney said he opposes any measure allowing undocumented workers - or their children - a chance to stay in the country or obtain citizenship quickly.

"We have to follow the law and insist that those who have come here illegally ultimately return home, apply, get in line with everyone else" to gain legal status, Romney said. "To protect our legal immigration system, we have got to protect our borders and stop the flood of illegal immigration."

Romney also rejected the idea that his position would alienate Latino voters, provided his message is coupled with a vow that he will improve economic growth. "As long as we communicate to the people of all backgrounds in this country that it can be better, and that America is a land of opportunity, we'll get those votes," he said.

That message may resonate with Republican voters in South Carolina, which holds its primary Saturday and was home to the nation's fastest-growing Hispanic population during the past decade, according to the 2010 Census. The population growth has prompted anti-immigrant fervor there that increases the risk for a Republican candidate to stray from a restrictive stance on illegal immigration in a primary.

A Univision News/Latino Decisions poll conducted Oct. 21 to Nov. 1 found Romney drawing support from 24 percent of Latino voters in a hypothetical match-up with Obama, who won 67 percent.