I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Sen. Pete Domenici will not be endorsing either Republican candidate in the hotly contested Republican primary for his Senate seat.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Saturday that Domenici, who is retiring because of health reasons, would not endorse either Heather Wilson or Steve Pearce for the Republican nomination. Both are running for the opportunity to take on Tom Udall, the only Democrat in the race, in November’s general election.
Blogger Joe Monahan noted in his Monday blog post that the story appeared on the print version of the Journal but did not appear online. In its ABQNews blog, the Journal acknowledged the oversight and reprinted the short item in its entirety.
No endorsement
Sen. Pete Domenici said Friday night that he will not endorse either candidate in the Republican U.S. Senate race prior to the June 3 primary election — but he vowed to plug hard for the winner.
“I can guarantee you that, not only will I endorse the winner, but I will work very, very hard,” Domenici said of the victor in the race between Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce.
Monahan called the decision by Domenici "a body blow" to Wilson because her "mentor" would not endorse her in the Republican primary.
Bruce Daniels, in the ABQNews blog post, wrote, "We agree with Monahan that Pete’s neutrality is a very big deal."
Domenici, however, did decide to endorse in the Third Congressional District primary.
He unsurprisingly endorsed his former aide, Marco Gonzales, for the Republican nomination. Kate Nash reports in her blog:
Domenici announced the endorsement in a postcard mailed to voters.
"I have enjoyed seeing Marco advance his professional career back home in New Mexico and re-establish his northern roots," he wrote. "Because Marco understands our unique cultures and interests and is a man of principle and conviction, I know he will serve us well in Congress."
Gonzales faces contractor Dan East in the Republican primary.
The seat is heavily Democratic. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, a Democrat, is leaving the seat to run for Senate. He won re-election in 2006 by a margin of 75 percent to 25 percent over Republican Ron Dolin.
The seat was was briefly held by a Republican ten years ago. Bill Redmond won the seat over Democrat Eric Serna in a 1997 special election. Green Party candidate Carol Miller took 17 percent of the vote in that race. Many believe she split the liberal vote, allowing Redmond to win the three-way race before going on to lose in his re-election bid at the hands of Udall one year later.
The primary between Wilson and Pearce will have large national implications. David Freddoso of the National Review said the primary is "the only competitive GOP Senate primary of 2008."
