Here's a roundup of the latest news from New Mexico's campaign trail. The primary election is June 3.
New attack ad: With just a week left before the Democratic primary, Congressional candidate Don Wiviott has released another television ad attacking front-runner Ben Ray Luján.
The 30-commercial blasts Luján for taking state-paid trips as a member of Public Regulation Commission.
"We've learned how Ben Ray Luján Jr. got a $90,000 state job, but didn't show up to 13 of 14 meetings. Instead, Luján used our money to fly to Miami, a pattern of taxpayer-funded trips, from Reno to San Diego, on top of his $90,000 salary. That's why Democrats are supporting Don Wiviott — a community leader and former union member. The change we need in Washington."
The ad shows a photo of Luján's smiling face superimposed over beach scenes for Miami and San Diego and colorful casino lights of downtown Reno with airplanes moving across the scene.
The missed meetings were for the state Telehealth Commission, to which the governor appointed Luján. They were the subject of a Wiviott attack ad released last week.
"Of the three work trips Wiviott's misleading ad mentions," a spokesman for the Luján campaign said in an e-mail, "two were trainings for regulatory commissioners and the third was the annual meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners at which Commissioner Luján worked with his peers to develop a regulatory framework for moving the West towards a clean, alternative energy future. This is just another attempt by Don Wiviott to mislead the voters of the 3rd Congressional District."
Bush demonstration: The state Democratic Party is calling for New Mexicans to protest President Bush's visit to Albuquerque today. Bush is in the Duke City to help raise money for Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White, who is running as a Republican in the First Congressional District. His GOP primary opponent is state Sen. Joe Carraro of Albuquerque.
"We will not let Darren White forget that making money off of President Bush's wealthy donor base is not enough to win in New Mexico because the people of New Mexico strongly support our troops coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan," Josh Geise, executive director of the state Democratic Party, said in an e-mail news release.
The party is holding a news conference and demonstration at 11 a.m. at Hartnett Park, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, 6718 Rio Grande Blvd. NE.
Candidate forums: The All Indian Pueblo Council is sponsoring a candidates forum Wednesday at Santa Ana Star Casino at Santa Ana Pueblo. A news release didn't say which candidates would be attending, and a spokeswoman couldn't be reached for comment Monday.
Two debates are scheduled this week for Republican Senate candidates.
Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson will face off at 9 p.m. tonight in a live, televised debate hosted by the
Albuquerque Journal and KOAT; 9 p.m. You can watch on Channel 7.
On Friday, the New Mexico Broadcasters Association hosts a live debate between Wilson and Pearce at Sandia Resort. The debate will air at 7 p.m. on KOB-TV, KRQE-TV, KLUZ-TV and KNME-TV.
Steve Terrell and Kate Nash are The New Mexican's Capitol reporters. Contact Terrell at 986-3037 or by e-mail at sterrell@sfnewmexican.com or Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com with campaign news.