With his presidential campaign over and New Mexico's Legislature coming to town this week, Gov. Bill Richardson has to think more about Michael Sanchez than Pervez Musharraf, more about escalating his forces in the Roundhouse than pulling troops out of Iraq.

He'll have to worry more about the Senate Finance Committee than Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama or John Edwards.

The governor's campaign for the White House, while earning only single-digit results in the early primaries, seems to have won him nothing but good will among lawmakers, even Republican critics.

Though Senate Democrats decided Friday to fill a leadership post with Sen. Tim Jennings, D-Roswell — who once angrily said Richardson might lead New Mexico "straight to hell" — both Richardson and the soon-to-be Senate president pro tem publicly downplay past differences.

Still, legislators and others wonder how long the good feelings can last, whether the politics will turn harsh as the days grow longer and the Feb. 14 deadline to complete this year's regular session draws closer.

There's no sign of leadership battles this session, such as last year's attempt by House Majority Leader Kenny Martinez, D-Grants, to wrest the speakership from Rep. Ben Luján, D-Nambé.

But there will be plenty of political warfare. Republicans will fight several aspects of Richardson's centerpiece legislative proposal, a long-awaited universal health care plan. The lines of battle will be far hazier in the expected discussion of ethics bills, which will pit reform-minded Democrats against entrenched lawmakers who see some of the proposals as threats to their power.

The idea of reversing a new law that makes it harder to get on the primary election ballot and once again allowing candidates to collect petition signatures seems to have some backing. However, it's not clear whether there will be a fight over details.

Richardson, Luján and others have said they support making it easier to get on the ballot, which could have ramifications for crowded congressional races in New Mexico. But adding an emergency clause so the measure takes effect before March pre-primary conventions requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Legislature. Just a handful of lawmakers in either chamber could derail the bill.

As the law stands, the only way that any of the various declared candidates could get on the primary ballot would be to win at least 20 percent of party convention delegates. The issue is already the subject of a lawsuit.

Richardson, who has been absent from the state for most of the past nine months, told reporters at a Friday news conference that he expects to stay in New Mexico for the 30-day session. But he said there might be a couple of "political trips" during that time, such as meetings of the National Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association.

Senate Democrats nominated Jennings to replace Sen. Ben Altamirano, who died last month in Silver City. Unlike Altamirano, a soft-spoken consensus builder and dependable Richardson supporter, Jennings hasn't been shy about opposing the governor and even blasting him in public.

Jennings' nomination must be approved by the full Senate, including the 18 Republican senators. No serious opposition is anticipated. Jennings, a rancher, enjoys a good relationship with Senate Republican Leader Stuart Ingle, a farmer from Portales.

For most of the state's history, president pro-tem was a largely ceremonial post, but under former Sen. Manny Aragon — who had the job from 1988 until 2001 — the president pro-tem became the most powerful position in the Senate. Since Aragon left, the position has become less powerful.

One clash between Jennings and the governor came last year, when Jennings was one of four Democratic senators who voted against Richardson's nomination of Beverlee McClure as secretary of higher education. McClure has since resigned.

Jennings also was one of four Democratic senators who joined with Republicans last year to defeat a domestic-partners bill that Richardson strongly backed. (Richardson said Friday that this bill, favored by gay-rights advocates, will again be on his legislative agenda.)

Sometimes it's gotten personal between the governor and the conservative Democrat.

During the 2004 session, Jennings' wife Patty Jennings, executive director of the New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool, was at a meeting in the governor's office that included pharmaceutical company lobbyists and representatives of nursing-home companies. Patty Jennings said Richardson allegedly threatened those attending that he would retaliate against them if they didn't support him on a drug bill he wanted. She described him as bullying, rude and profane at the meeting.

Shortly after the meeting, Sen. Jennings took the Senate floor.

"I am going to tell you that if this governor were in a family situation, he would be arrested for domestic violence," he said. "I am going to tell you that if this body and this Legislature doesn't stand up on its feet and defend this institution, this governor is going to take us straight to hell."

After that session, Richardson, who refused to apologize to Patty Jennings or others at the meeting, vetoed $750,000 in financing for capital improvement projects sponsored by Sen. Jennings.

Asked Friday about any lingering animosity, the senator said, "That's been put behind us," adding, "I will tell you that I will not be someone who sets out to be antagonistic to Governor Richardson, just for the sake of it. I am not going to do that. Not only is it not fair, it is not respectful to the office he holds either. I will not disrespect the governor."

Richardson said Friday, "I don't have a problem with Senator Jennings." The governor said both he and Jennings have a shared interest in universal health care legislation, which is the governor's top priority in the session.

"My relationship with the Senate is strong, as my relationship with the House is strong," Richardson said — even though history has shown that the House has been far friendlier to Richardson proposals than the Senate. Richardson dismissed past problems with the Senate as "bumps in the road."

But Richardson quickly changed the subject, steering his remarks to the importance of passing his health care package.

Senate Majority Leader Sanchez, D-Belen — who also has bucked Richardson on several issues — likewise downplayed problems between the Senate and governor. "He's been more congenial the past two or three years," Sanchez said of Richardson. "I don't see him being any different this year than he's been the past two or three years."

Republican House Whip Dan Foley of Roswell said that while he still disagrees with Richardson over several issues, he won't be taking cheap shots at the governor over his failed presidential campaign.

"His run for president was good for New Mexico," Foley said. "It let people know about our state. We should welcome him back with open arms and embrace him."

Foley said Richardson has scheduled a meeting with House Republican leaders for Monday.

"It's time to get to work," he said.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.