Senator's move shakes up state politics
Related
Advertisement
Crowded field of Democrats likely to seek seat
10/3/2007 -
The news of U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici's expected announcement that he will retire at the end of his current term hit New Mexico politics like an earthquake Wednesday."It's a whole new ball game," said Albuquerque pollster Brian Sanderoff. "This turns things upside down in New Mexico politics."
Although the six-term senator had once been considered politically invincible, in recent months, he's faced a Senate ethics investigation over his alleged role in the firing of U.S. Attorney David Iglesias and has seen his approval rating sharply drop, perhaps because of his support for the Iraq war. A Senate aide Wednesday denied the polls or the ethics investigation have anything to do with Domenici's decision.
While no potential candidates from either major party immediately announced their intentions of running for Republican Domenici's seat, some major names in state politics coyly said they aren't ruling out the possibility.
"This certainly reshuffles the deck in New Mexico politics," said Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, a Democrat who said she is considering running for Domenici's seat. "To be honest, I'm more focused on running for governor in 2010. But I've been asked to seriously consider the Senate."
Denish said "people in Washington" as well as some close friends of hers have asked her to think about running for the Senate.
Asked whether he's considering a race for Domenici's seat, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez said Wednesday that he's not ruling it out. "I can't imagine anyone who values public service wouldn't be honored to be in the U.S. Senate. It's the most important organization on the planet," he said.
Like Denish, Chávez has been raising money for the next gubernatorial Democratic primary.
Some have speculated Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson could jump in the Senate race if his presidential race isn't successful. But Richardson has said he's not interested, and a spokesman said Wednesday that Domenici's retirement would not change that stance. "If true, this development changes nothing. Richardson is running for president and confident about winning," Tom Reynolds said.
But Lonna Atkeson, a political science professor at The University of New Mexico, said Richardson has to deny interest in other races because he's running for president. "The Democratic nomination probably will be over by Feb. 5," she said. That's still plenty of time for the governor to jump into a Senate primary, which will be held in June.
On the GOP side, state Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons — the only Republican to win a statewide race for state office in the past five years — said he is considering running for U.S. Senate. He said he plans to talk with U.S. Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce, who also have been mentioned as possible Republican successors to Domenici. Asked if he'd decide not to run if Wilson or Pearce declare, Lyons said, "Not necessarily. I just want to talk with them before I decide."
Wilson on Wednesday released a statement praising Domenici — whom she called a "mentor" — for his years of service, but did not address the question of whether she would run for Senate. "Whatever his announcement, New Mexicans can be grateful for all our senator has done for our state and nation," she said.
Similarly, Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Udall — frequently mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for Domenici's seat — released a statement saying, "We're all grateful for his half-century of public service to New Mexico." Asked about Udall's political plans, a spokeswoman said, "At this time, we are focusing on Senator Domenici's legacy."
Efforts to get comment from Pearce weren't successful.
Three Democrats — Don Wiviott, Jim Hannan and Leland Lehrman, who publishes an alternative newspaper — all political novices from Santa Fe, already had declared their intentions to run against Domenici.
"I think Pete is a smart guy," said Wiviott, a local developer. "He's run his course, and he knows it. This is good news for our agenda — economic development for small business as well as big business, protecting the planet and ending the war."
Said Wiviott, "I jumped in when Pete was still very strong in the polls."
Hannan, finance director of the Santa Fe Community Housing Trust, said he welcomed the news about Domenici and hinted he might drop out. "It is my great wish that a Democrat like Tom Udall decides to run for the U.S. Senate," Hannan said in an e-mail.
Sanderoff predicted the current Democratic candidates would "fall by the wayside" when better-known and better-funded candidates emerge.
Many state Democrats on Wednesday issued statements praising Domenici's years in the Senate. "I consider him a good friend and greatly admire his public service to the people of New Mexico," said New Mexico's other U.S. senator, Jeff Bingaman.
But a national anti-war group, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, which has run television ads aimed at Domenici, e-mailed a statement saying, "Sen. Domenici is yet another political casualty of the war in Iraq. After witnessing the public outrage over the war this summer, Domenici knew that he faced political extinction because of his blind obedience to the President's failed Iraq policy."
Professor Atkeson said Domenici's apparent retirement, coupled with the unpopularity of the current Republican administration, probably will mean a crowded field for Democrats seeking the Senate seat.
The question, she said, is "will we have a sound Republican pool?" Saying "it looks like a good year for Democrats," Atkeson noted some potential Republican candidates might be reluctant to run.
Of the current congressional delegation, Atkeson said, Pearce might be too conservative to run well in a statewide race, while Udall might be too liberal for voters outside his Northern New Mexico district.
As for Wilson, Atkeson said she will have to decide whether the race is worth it. Wilson, who barely won re-election to Congress in 2006, might not want to risk losing a statewide race, Atkeson said, especially in a year that's not boding well for Republicans. Wilson's voting record for the Iraq war could be a problem in a Senate race, Atkeson said.
"But if she wants to go to the Senate, she might decide, 'This is my chance,' " Atkeson said.
Sanderoff noted that, judging by New Mexico's history, whoever is elected to the Senate next year is likely to hold the seat for many years. Domenici has held the seat since 1973 while the state's junior senator, Bingaman, was first elected in 1982.
"And if incumbent representatives run, that creates a ripple effect," Sanderoff said. "Others will be running for their seats."
The 2008 election would have been the first time Domenici ran burdened with controversy, Sanderoff said. "The Iglesias thing was the very first chink in his armor," the pollster said. "And he's vulnerable on Iraq. He's 75 years old, and he might have just decided to quit while he's still on top of his game."
Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.
