Democratic presidential caucus

New Mexico’s senior senator, Jeff Bingaman, expressed hope Tuesday that Specter’s decision to join the Democratic caucus would translate into an easier time for President Obama’s agenda in the U.S. Senate.

Six weeks before the presidential vote, the forgotten debacle of New Mexico’s Democratic caucus last February is casting a shadow on preparations for what is expected to be record turnout in a key battleground state where Barack Obama and John McCain are running neck-and-neck in the polls.