Rescue plan puts Senate race campaigns on hold
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10/1/2008 -
ALBUQUERQUE — Campaign workers for Republican Steve Pearce and Democrat Tom Udall are scrambling to reschedule speeches and other events as a congressional vote on a financial rescue plan delays the final phase of the U.S. Senate race in New Mexico.With a mere five weeks remaining before the Nov. 4 election, the congressmen must leave the campaign trail behind to return to Washington today to work out a $700 billion bailout to save the nation from its worst economic disaster since the Great Depression.
In a typical election year, congressional campaigns would be in full swing after Congress breaks for its fall recess. Not so this year.
Congress adjourned after rejecting a bailout package Monday and will resume midday today after the Jewish new year.
Pearce spokesman Brian Phillips said the GOP candidate is trying to make a scheduled speech at an American Indian gambling conference in Albuquerque on Wednesday before hopping a 6 a.m. flight back to Washington for House votes today. He's also had to reschedule nearly a dozen radio calls and other campaign events.
"But this is part of the challenge of being in office and running at the same time, particularly in an election like this that is very important and very contentious," Phillips said.
Udall spokeswoman Marissa Padilla said the Democratic congressman rescheduled events in Santa Fe and Albuquerque today and Farmington on Friday to return to the nation's capitol.
He's hoping Congress makes progress on the financial measures so he can be in New Mexico in time for a parade in Shiprock, Padilla said. "It definitely puts the schedule in a shuffle," she said.
The financial crisis has affected other campaigns, too.
Republican Ed Tinsley, a candidate in the 2nd Congressional District, saw a Hobbs fundraiser last Friday disrupted when the headliner, Vice President Dick Cheney, canceled his New Mexico trip to remain in Washington and work on the federal rescue plan.
Both Udall and Pearce were expected to cancel their appearances at a forum sponsored by a coalition of New Mexico disability organizations today.
Pat Putnam, director of the state Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, said the event had been four months in the making, but would go on with representatives from the campaigns.
"Are we disappointed that they are not able to do it? Sure. But at the same time with the gravity of the situation, we understand that this is a higher priority. This is absolutely something that has to be dealt with," Putnam said of the economic situation facing the nation.
While the economy has always been among the leading issues in the Senate campaign, this latest financial crisis gives the candidates one last chance to show voters their commitment to protecting their financial future.
Pearce and Udall both voted against the rescue package Monday, citing insufficient protection for taxpayers and a failure to address the underlying issues that caused the economic meltdown.
Both campaigns said their work in Washington has to take precedence over their campaign commitments in New Mexico.
"Obviously, the important thing is having (Pearce) back here for votes and having him do what he does as a congressman," Phillips said in Washington. "This is one of the most critical votes in his congressional career."
Padilla said although Udall was back in New Mexico this week, he was actively working on a new version of the bill between campaign commitments. "He's very capable of doing both," she said.
