After meeting with governor, Denish considering running against Domenici in 2008

Lieutenant Gov. Diane Denish is seriously considering running against Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., in 2008.

A source who would know about such things told me Wednesday that Gov. Bill Richardson, incensed because he believes the senator was involved in the Damron/Dendahl swicheroo, met with Denish last week to ask her to consider running against Domenici.

“It’s something she will definitely consider,” the source told me.

Political blogger Joe Monahan reported earlier this week that Richardson is seeking a Democrat to take on Domenici in 2008. Richardson and Domenici had a long-standing truce, until the gubernatorial switcheroo earlier this month.

Domenici called Richardson last week to tell him he wasn’t involved in J.R. Damron dropping out of the gubernatorial race or the Republican Party’s decision to replace him with fireball John Dendahl, the source told me. Richardson doesn’t believe him.

“The governor has always stayed out of Senator Domenici’s races in the past, but he just sees too many signals of Domenici involvement, or at least Steve Bell’s involvement,” the source said.

Bell is Domenici’s chief political operative.

Dendahl has said Bell was involved in the switch, and most doubt the party would make such a bold move without the blessing of Domenici, the party’s daddy.

Many speculate that the switch isn’t about winning the governor’s race, but is about smearing Richardson to kill his potential 2008 presidential bid. Dendahl is controversial for his brutal political assaults.

Domenici, 74, recently announced he’ll see a seventh, six-year term in 2008. He was first elected to the office in 1972 by beating Denish’s father.