If you think the 2008 presidential race is off to a fast start, what you should be watching is the 2010
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has already announced her intention to run in 2010, and made clear that she’s ready to step in before that if Gov. Bill Richardson takes a job in
Now comes the news, reported in today’s Albuquerque Journal, that Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez has filed paperwork to form the “Marty Chávez for
Chávez, who like Denish is a Democrat, told the Journal that 2010 is far away and he isn’t certain he’ll run for governor – he might instead seek re-election to his current job – but Denish’s early entry in the race has forced him to start raising money so he can keep up.
“I’m opening doors,” Chávez told the Journal. “I love the job I have. I’m not precluding running for re-election, but clearly the season is starting a little earlier this year, given the lieutenant governor’s declaration and the fact that she’s aggressively raising money.”
Next week’s Chávez fundraiser will be hosted by former U.S. Ambassador to Spain Ed Romero and his wife, but Romero said that doesn’t mean he is picking sides.
“This means that I’m just accommodating a friend, OK?” the Journal quoted him as saying.
Chávez is in his third term as
By the end of 2006, Denish had already raised $1 million for her 2010 gubernatorial campaign, the Journal reported.
Former Attorney General Patricia Madrid has said she might run for governor in 2010, further crowding the field of potential Democratic contenders. State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, has also been mentioned as a possible candidate.
On the Republican side, politicos mentioned as possible gubernatorial candidates include U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez and Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White.