Campaign trail mix May 20

Kate Nash and Steve Terrell | The New Mexican

5/19/2008 - 5/17/08

There are 14 days until the June 3 primary. Here's a look at the latest news from New Mexico's campaign trail.

Endorsement from New York: Heather Wilson has received an endorsement in her Republican Senate primary race against Steve Pearce — from a conservative daily (well, Monday through Friday) newspaper in New York City.

The New York Sun, in an editorial Monday, described Wilson as "a rising star with a record of winning tight races."

"While Republicans publicly fret over the possibility of an electoral 'disaster' in November we find our thoughts turning to New Mexico, where one of our favorite members of Congress, Heather Wilson, is in a fight for the Republican nomination for Senate against Steven Pearce," the editorial said. "The morning line is that Ms. Wilson is not quite as conservative as Mr. Pearce but would have a better chance of beating the liberal Democrat, Tom Udall, that the winner of the Republican primary will face in November. Our view is that if the Republican Party of 2008 would prefer to lose with Mr. Pearce than win with Ms. Wilson, it deserves its fate."

The Sun notes that Club For Growth, "whose free-market policies this newspaper supports," is backing Pearce. "If one credits analysts who reckon he stands less of a chance to win in November, the Club for Growth has emerged as, in effect, the Club for Udall, since a vote for Mr. Pearce in the June primary is tantamount to a vote in November for one of the most liberal political dynasties on the map."

See the entire editorial at www2.nysun.com/editorials/heather-wilsons-war/76597.

Susan's list: An anti-abortion group called The Susan B. Anthony List has spent $30,000 in radio ads on New Mexico Christian radio stations slamming Heather Wilson.

Specifically the organization, which is backing Steve Pearce in the Republican Senate primary, is criticizing Wilson for her vote against an amendment last year that would stop federal funding of Planned Parenthood and votes to allow the Food and Drug Administration testing and approval of the RU 486 "abortion pill."

The ad can be heard on the organization's Web site, www.sba-list.org/truth.

According to its Web site, "The organization is named after the suffragette Susan B. Anthony because she was an outspoken critic of abortion, calling it 'child murder.' Although she is known for helping women win the right to vote, it is often untold in history that she was strongly pro-life."

President to campaign in CD 1: In the 1st Congressional District, meanwhile, Democrat Martin Heinrich's campaign says President Bush next Tuesday will campaign in Albuquerque for Republican Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White.

Supporters will pay $5,000 each for a chance at food and a photo with Bush, according to an e-mail sent to supporters.

"It should come as no surprise that George Bush is embracing Darren White," Heinrich wrote. "After all, White has long been a strong supporter of President Bush and his failed policies."

While we all are fixated on the 3rd Congressional District, the race to the south is just as big, already garnering attention from publications like Congressional Quarterly and getting interest from groups like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.